Message From Choicepoint
As many of you are probably aware, information database giant ChoicePoint recently disclosed that their systems had been compromised resulting in the release of private information of thousands of individuals. I am a ChoicePoint customer and this morning when I logged into my account to do some routine searches I got this message:
Apparently Choicepoint's knee-jerk reaction to their recent problems is going to be to limit access to information for licensed, insured and legitimate investigators like myself. This way ChoicePoint can offer up their legitimate private investigation clients as a "sacrificial lamb" to legislators looking to appease their constituents who are no-doubt in a frenzy over the hype surrounding this story.
Which really isn't fair. As I've pointed out before, private investigators serve a neccessary and important purpose in our society. The average citizen and business owner has to have someone they can turn to when they need to track down that person who owes them money or need the police investigation reviewed when they are accused of a crime. There is no other alternative for them outside of private investigators. So when the government enacts privacy laws that do not include exemptions for private investigators they hurt the public's ability to conduct business and defend themselves in court, among other things.
Private investigators should not be punished for ChoicePoint's wrongs. The above statement is essentially a tacit admission that they have been lax in regulating access to their databases. This is not the fault of the legitimate investigators like myself who have accessed that information. We should not have to bear the fallout of Choicepoint's mistakes.
Dear Customer: Based on recent issues, we are taking a proactive stance on managing access to sensitive information. ChoicePoint is initiating a process to update your user and account information and potentially reducing your access to some data - until we process the update.
Your account is still open and searches are running. Some Social Security numbers, Drivers License numbers and birth dates may have been truncated (only part of the number will display) on reports or searches.
We understand this may cause concern for your company or interfere with productivity. We sincerely apologize and will compensate you by crediting some future searches on ChoicePoint products if you are affected by this change.
An account representative will call you to update your information. If you call or email us now, we cannot update or change your data access. If you have data questions or product questions contact us at 1-800-279-7710 or email us at account.updates@choicepointprg.net.
We are serious about serving customers and serious about the responsible use of information. These may seem in conflict, but we are working towards a better solution for all stakeholders. Thank you for your understanding.
Apparently Choicepoint's knee-jerk reaction to their recent problems is going to be to limit access to information for licensed, insured and legitimate investigators like myself. This way ChoicePoint can offer up their legitimate private investigation clients as a "sacrificial lamb" to legislators looking to appease their constituents who are no-doubt in a frenzy over the hype surrounding this story.
Which really isn't fair. As I've pointed out before, private investigators serve a neccessary and important purpose in our society. The average citizen and business owner has to have someone they can turn to when they need to track down that person who owes them money or need the police investigation reviewed when they are accused of a crime. There is no other alternative for them outside of private investigators. So when the government enacts privacy laws that do not include exemptions for private investigators they hurt the public's ability to conduct business and defend themselves in court, among other things.
Private investigators should not be punished for ChoicePoint's wrongs. The above statement is essentially a tacit admission that they have been lax in regulating access to their databases. This is not the fault of the legitimate investigators like myself who have accessed that information. We should not have to bear the fallout of Choicepoint's mistakes.
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