FTC: Consumer Privacy Comments Concerning Morris Investigations--P974806

MORRIS INVESTIGATIONS
P.0. Box 5277, KINGWOOD, TX 77325

OFFICE: 281-358-1151
FAX: 281-358-5950
TOLL FREE: 1-800-444-1152
EMAIL - BMORRISPI@AOL.COM

ROBERT J. MORRIS
FLOYD J. MORRIS
WILLIAM W. BARNES

July 8, 1997

Mr. Robert Pitofsky
Chairman, Federal Trade Commission
Room H-159 Sixth & Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20580

Re: Support of Self Regulation

Dear Mr. Chairman:

In response to the Commission's request for additional comments following the hearings held June IO, 1997, I as a licensed private Investigator am a regular user of public and non-public records (such as credit headers), and support the proposition of self regulation.

The data we regularly access and use in our reports 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 the problems they are faced with, 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.

We are required to keep to Information confidential and maintain a high degree of accuracy In our reports due to law and the test of the courts and marketplace. To have the targets of our investigations able to browse around in our Inquiries and data, or opt out of a databases that are private and public would be the death of our industry and freedom. The prevention of wrongdoing and protection of fraud are real tests of the use of data.

Privacy protection can be managed through our industry’s self-regulation of uses and distribution. Our industry has shied a willingness and desire to self regulate.

This industry must have the opportunity to self regulate and welcomes the governments help in enforcing the rules, 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,

Bob Morris

Bob Morris
Licensed Private Investigator

cc:
file

LICENSE BY THE TEXAS BOARD OF PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS -STATE LICENSE NUMBER A-4899
MEMBER OF THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF LICENSED INVESTIGATORS (TALI) SINCE 1984