mmhardy Posted December 18, 2004 Share Posted December 18, 2004 The Drudge Report has linked an article from the NY Times entitled "A.C.L.U.'s Search for Data on Donors Stirs Privacy Fears" its a chilling piece that outlines how the ACLU opens a file on significant donors and members and collects information such as ..." individual's wealth, holdings in public corporations, other assets and philanthropic interests." It also notes that the ACLU has failed to notifiy its membersip of the data-mining of personal information that it conducts on each of its members. http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/18/national/18aclu.html?ei=5006&en=1fb103f41ec09d84&ex=1104037200&partner=ALTAVISTA1&pagewanted=print&position= Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SemperParatus Posted December 18, 2004 Share Posted December 18, 2004 Now I know the ACLU doesn't have a file on me...but I'm sure the BSA does (insert smiley thingy)! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SR540Beaver Posted December 19, 2004 Share Posted December 19, 2004 mmhardy, The Republican and Democratic parties do the same thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johndaigler Posted December 19, 2004 Share Posted December 19, 2004 So does every charitable organization, PBS station, museum and community group to which you've ever contributed. It's smart business --- people who give give again. It's why we fundraise popcorn the way we do! It's why kids know which neighborhoods to trick-or-treat! It's also why Drudge does what he does - again and again - demographic studies! jd(This message has been edited by johndaigler) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
packsaddle Posted December 19, 2004 Share Posted December 19, 2004 So....? If your point is that THEY do it then you must react similarly to every OTHER business and organization that does it. Do you? I have a case in point for you: I have a neighbor family (ok they live 0.5 miles away) that is almost never seen outside their home. If I knock on their door, there is a 90% chance they won't even answer it. They don't answer phone calls or correspondence sent to them, at least not from me. That is fine with me but my point is - they are very private. I dare say that prying eyes don't notice them and they give very little reason for eyes to pry. But if you get a credit card, join BSA as an adult leader, buy a car, you get the picture, there are going to be lots of prying eyes. You'll know neither who they are nor their motives. And until they cross the line for whatever privacy laws there are, you can do nothing about it. So....? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmhardy Posted December 20, 2004 Author Share Posted December 20, 2004 So??? It's an integrity issue. Republicans, Dems, and your local charitys tell you that they may keep a record of your participation. I guess the real point is that the ACLU has told its rank and file that I would not collect information about its members without permission. It got caught in a lie. The NYT story states that as a result of getting caught it changed its policy statement on its web site on Nov 8th. To take a quote from the story..."Michael Meyers, vice president of the [ACLU] organization and a frequent and strident internal critic. Mr. Meyers said he learned about the new research by accident Nov. 7 in a meeting of the committee that is organizing the group's Biennial Conference in July. He objected to the practices, and the next day, the privacy policy on the group's Web site was changed. "They took out all the language that would show that they were violating their own policy," he said. "In doing so, they sanctified their procedure while still keeping it secret." Another point in the story which I found VERY interesting is that the ACLU pulled out of a federal charity drive because the US government required that the ACLU to certify that it would not knowingly employ people whose names were on government terrorism watch lists. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evmori Posted December 20, 2004 Share Posted December 20, 2004 The ACLU have integrity! When pigs fly! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
le Voyageur Posted December 20, 2004 Share Posted December 20, 2004 Before the word was coined, data mining has always been an element used by both our State and Federal governments; plus, we must include the private sectors also...besides the ACLU, who else may have files on you.. - the IRS - the CIA - Banks, Savings and Loans, etc. - the FBI - the NSA/NRO.....thanks to cell phones - Social Security - the DMV - your internet provider using spyware - schools - local PD's so much for privacy, hey.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffalo2 Posted December 20, 2004 Share Posted December 20, 2004 Privacy is long gone... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scoutingagain Posted December 20, 2004 Share Posted December 20, 2004 Noticed this tidbit in mmhardy's note, "the group's Biennial Conference in July." I still think the DOD should offer to host a large scale camping event for the ACLU for their meeting. The BSA could solicit local units to offer to cook for them. SA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lone Posted December 27, 2004 Share Posted December 27, 2004 The point is not that the data was collected. It is hypocrisy. When I call the IRS, I *KNOW* my file is being updated. When I donate to the party of my choice, I *KNOW* that information will be given to other parties unless I opt out. There is no pretending. Hardy is right, it's an integrity issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now