tom.jennings@f111.n125.z1.FIDONET.ORG (tom jennings) (04/15/91)
ANSWER: (a) doesn't matter. (b) does. I am amazed at the number of Americans who cannot or will not make the separation between: what they *personally* dislike, and how they expect people to treat them. Or to be treated by our legal system(s). THIS IS THE EXACT PROBLEM. NO MORE, NO LESS. In my limited experience, I've found that Europeans are slightly more likely to make the distinction. I got a chance to see a portion of an FBI file on me, on a San Francisco police computer. It said, and I quote: "MFG/SELL DANGEROUS WEAPONS". I swear I have never done anything more illegal than smoke a joint or run a stop sign. The only time I sold a firearm was back to the store I bought it at. Manufacturing firearms I have never done. My shooting aquaintences familiar with law enforcement (yup I have cop friends -- go figger) say this means, in cases like a visiting the site of a disturbance, that they shoot first and ask questions later. I think we have very good reasons to be afraid of our systems. By the way -- the E.F.F. has essentially answered "yes" to (b), analogous to the cases it is defending. And caught flak from it. Remember that? Is it clear enough yet? -- tom jennings - via FidoNet node 1:125/777 UUCP: ...!uunet!hoptoad!fidogate!111!tom.jennings INTERNET: tom.jennings@f111.n125.z1.FIDONET.ORG
bei@dogface (Bob Izenberg) (04/21/91)
tom.jennings@f111.n125.z1.FIDONET.ORG (tom jennings) writes: > I got a chance to see a portion of an FBI file on me, on a San Francisco > police computer. It said, and I quote: "MFG/SELL DANGEROUS WEAPONS". Well, this is, I suppose, the next disturbing step after the credit bureau issue. While you're looking at the info whose gathering the collective we paid for, check out your US Customs records as well. If you haven't filed an FOIA request yet, now may be the time. -- Bob Bob Izenberg cs.utexas.edu!dogface!bei [ ] "So young, so bad... So what!" 512 346 7019 Wendy O. Williams
tom.jennings@f111.n125.z1.FIDONET.ORG (tom jennings) (04/27/91)
I don't see it as separate from the "credit bureau" issue, as a matter of fact I can't even tellt he difference -- it's simply "profiling". My assumption is that there's no one "targeting" me specifically (I'm not that kinda paranoid :-) but rather a number of odd things lined up in someones "profiles" ... This is why I also think the very concept of profiling is bad. This use naturally follows the other. It is why I also think the only su\olution in the US is to have the default-built-in safeguards assume the data-compilators to have limits up front, rather than "we get to defend ourselves" afterwards, like the Equifax people et al propose. Ie. get your record(s) and correct errors. All record-compilers could mail us our record once every year or so; we edit it, mail it back. This lets them off the hook for liability too as to accuracy. Coupled with a royalty or other kickback for usage of the record, we'd be in good shape an in cooperative business together. It could even hav checkboxes for "things I'm interested in" and the buyers of the various databases could provide them with feedback, reporting to the data compilers what in the checked boxes I actually bought. The compilers could give you a higher royalty based upon the accuracy of boxes checked vs. actual transactions etc. Or you could simply return the record marked "do not use my name". Period. -- tom jennings - via FidoNet node 1:125/777 UUCP: ...!uunet!hoptoad!fidogate!111!tom.jennings INTERNET: tom.jennings@f111.n125.z1.FIDONET.ORG
jefu@twics.co.jp (Jeffrey Shapard) (04/28/91)
Tom, maybe the "dangerous weapons" the FBI says you make and sell refers to FIDO... or your 'zine... <smile> --jefu * Jeffrey Shapard <jefu@twics.co.jp> "Connectivity * * Connect-activist and Operations Director, TWICS, Tokyo is our biz..." *
Tom.Jennings@f111.n125.z1.FIDONET.ORG (Tom Jennings) (05/02/91)
Quoting Jeffrey Shapard's msg of 28 Apr: >Tom, maybe the "dangerous weapons" the FBI says you make and >sell refers to FIDO... or your 'zine... <smile> >--jefu I'm not sure if that's better, or worse :-) -- Tom Jennings - via FidoNet node 1:125/777 UUCP: ...!uunet!hoptoad!fidogate!111!Tom.Jennings INTERNET: Tom.Jennings@f111.n125.z1.FIDONET.ORG