FTC: Consumer Privacy Comments Concerning Forensic Analysts--P974806 Forensic Analysts
Mr. Robert Pitofsky, Chairman, Federal Trade
Commission Re:Support of Self Regulation Dear Mr. Chairman: In response to the Commission's request for additional comments following the hearings held June 10, 1997, I submit my comments. I am a regular user of public and non-public records (such as credit headers), and support the proposition of self regulation. I am a licensed private investigator, in Arizona, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas, The data I regularly access and use in reporting to clients has a beneficial use and need in society. It is important that a free flow of information be available to support commerce and our judicial system. It also allows the public, who does not have the resources to manage all of the problems they are facing, to defend itself without looking to government for help. Further, regulation would create additional barriers to use that today save lives, prevent fraud and bring families together. I am required to keep the information confidential and maintain a high degree of accuracy in my reports due to law and the test of the courts and marketplace. To have the entity of our investigations able to browse around in our inquiries and data, or opt out of databases that are private and public would be death of our industry and freedom. The prevention of wrongdoing and protection from fraud are the real tests of the use of data. Our industry's self-regulation, of uses and distribution, can manage privacy protection. Our industry has stated a willingness and desire to self regulate. This industry must have the opportunity to self regulate and welcomes the government's help in enforcing the rule, through our efforts and the industry's associations. I ask that you support self regulation and work with the industry to successfully bring about policies and procedures that we can all live with in a free society. Respectfully submitted Ross H. Lind cc:Dick Armey Licensed in Texas and Oklahoma |