Opt-in vs. Opt-out (Score 1)

Even the proposed standards for the US offer little protection. The "compromise" that big business got with Congress is called opt-out. If you don't want them to use your private data, it's your responsibilty to let them know. They can make it as difficult as they like to do so. One company made you call a long ditsance number (no 800), anothermade you send them snail mail.

The alternative is opt-in, where you have to explicitly give them permission to use your private data. At least this offers the defense that you should have known what you were giving up. It may not be much, but it's a step.

In a world where so much is dependent on information, having the right to review someone's file on you is critical. Remember the story last week about the mistaken identity? This stuff happens. I'd rather that my insurance company triple my rates because someone with the same name has a history of liver disease. Or whatever. Let me choose.

Europe's standards are pretty decent. The ones in the US suck.