FTC: Consumer Privacy Comments Concerning PFC Information Services, Inc.--P974806
PFC July 15, 1997 Secretary, Federal Trade Commission Re. Support of Self Regulation Dear Mr. Secretary: In response to the Commissions request for additional comments following the hearings held in June 1997, we urge you to give the public records industry the opportunity to self regulate. Our company conducts public records research and we routinely access both public records and nonpublic records, such as credit header information. We are often asked by law firms and investors to conduct due diligence research on companies and on individuals who we corporate offers, This research is often conducted preliminary to a merger and acquisition. It is not at uncommon for us to uncover discrepancies in the information disclosed by the subjects, i.e., bankruptcies that were not mentioned, unpaid tax liens, lawsuits involving the subject. Without the availability of credit header data it would be difficult, if not impossible to determine which locations should be searched for records. Also, the availability of Social Security numbers is essential to determining whether or not records found pertain to the subject. Our firm also performs pre-employment background checks on all kind of employees--from nannies to physicians. In our experience with background checks on nannies and eldercare workers, approximately six percent of those applicants have criminal records. We had one nanny applicant who had been charged with murder and who was convicted of voluntary manslaughter. This applicant was being hind by a family to care for their two month old baby daughter. While we understand and appreciate the concerns of privacy advocates. We find the availability of both public and nonpublic information on the interest to be a disturbing trend and foci that there is a need for tighter controls. We strongly urge you to target those vendors who we providing Internet access to this data. We feel that the benefits to society inherent in the availability of this information outweigh the threat to individual privacy. The most effective means of controlling the dissemination of this information is to allow the industry to self regulate. If the vendors of this data carefully control who is allowed access and if access is terminated for misuse of information, the potential for abuse is greatly reduced. Respectfully yours, Lynn PetersonLynn Peterson PFC Information Services, Inc. - 6114 La Salle Ave., No. 638 - Oakland, CA 94611 - tel [510] 653.5061 - fax [510] 653.0842 |