Fwd: Privacy Alert

Rob Gordon (robert.gordon@Central.Sun.COM)
Wed, 18 Sep 1996 21:47:54 -0600

Before people get too freaked out, this has gone 'round and 'round
at my workplace (Sun Microsystems) and below is posted the net
of all the subdued panic.

rob

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>From sabra@rmtc.Central.Sun.COM Wed Sep 18 15:31 MDT 1996
Date: Wed, 18 Sep 1996 15:30:36 -0600
From: sabra@rmtc.Central.Sun.COM (Sabra Feldman)
To: rmtc@rmtc.Central.Sun.COM
Subject: Re: Controversy

Earlier this week, e-mail was sent to this alias regarding P-TRACK,
an information service provided by Lexis-Nexis. The following
e-mail message, from Tom Hesley, a friend of mine who works at
Lexis-Nexis, contains the official statement about P-TRACK,
as well as instructions for removal from the database.

Sabra
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Sabra,

Here's the information you requested on P-TRACK. There will be a new
800 number created next week to handle inquiries about P-TRACK. Until
then, follow the instructions in the statement from LEXIS-NEXIS below.

Later,
Tom

------------------------------------------------------------------------

STATEMENT FROM LEXIS-NEXIS 9/18/96

Incorrect information is being distributed on Internet newsgroups
regarding the data displayed in LEXIS-NEXIS' P-TRAK file. P-TRAK is like
an electronic "white pages." The only information displayed is the name
of the individual, current address and up to two previous addresses and
telephone number. In some cases, the individual's maiden name may appear
and as well as the month and year of birth. That is the ONLY information
displayed in the P-TRAK file.

Contrary to some messages that have been posted to some Internet
discussion and news groups, the P-TRAK file DOES NOT contain any credit
histories, bank account information, personal financial data, mother's
maiden name or medical histories. This misinformation has been posted
over and over again to various news groups.

An example of a record appears below:

Name: DOE, JOHN E
Current Address: 1066 Anywhere Drive, Dayton, OH 95454
Previous Address: 106 Somewhere Drive, Dayton, OH 92454
Birthdate: 9/1965
Telephone Number: 555-1212
On File Since: 6/1/1994

The information displayed in the P-TRAK file is the type of information
readily available from public information sources such as telephone
directories (in print and CD-ROM format) and public records maintained
by government agencies.

LEXIS-NEXIS markets the P-TRAK file to the legal community for use by
general legal practitioners, litigators and public attorneys, as well as
law enforcement agencies and police departments. These professionals use
the P-TRAK file to assist in locating litigants, witnesses, shareholders,
debtors, heirs and beneficiaries.

LEXIS-NEXIS is aware of the sensitivities regarding the potential misuse
of information. Business competitors of LEXIS-NEXIS have for some time
made Social Security numbers available to users of their services. In
addition, Social Security Numbers and other information are available on
the Internet from a number of sources. Despite this wide availability of
Social Security numbers in the market place, LEXIS-NEXIS discontinued the
display of Social Security numbers in the P-TRAK file as of June 11,
1996, eleven days after the product was introduced.

Through its actions, LEXIS-NEXIS is balancing the privacy concerns of the
public with the legitimate needs of legal, business and government
professionals for access to accurate sources of publicly available
information. By discontinuing the display of Social Security numbers in
P-TRAK and only providing information that is already available to the
public from other sources, LEXIS-NEXIS believes it has responsibly met
the expressed concerns of the public.

Individuals interested in having their names removed from the P-TRAK file
can e-mail their full name and complete address to:
p-trak@prod.lexis-nexis.com or mail this information to ATTN: P-TRAK,
P. O. Box 933, Dayton, OH 45401.

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