To wonder why people give out their personal data without a second thought?

[AssignedMentalAtBirth]

Wanted to have a discussion about the data we are putting out there. For example, so much personal information on Facebook, using their own names on twitter, discussing personal preferences, history, political leanings and much more

Having trillions of store cards, giving out their details online to get an extra 10% off etc. Logging into accounts using your Facebook or Google passport seems to be particular reckless

I am very careful with the information I give out. I have no online presence, no store cards, use a cookie blocker etc. You cannot find me using web browsers.

I used to work in data analysis when it was relatively difficult to match data sets from differing sources. Now it is extremely easy. These companies have a huge deal of information on people, then they sell it on, when it is matched with other sources.

What I really fear is the imposition of a national ID card, which can then be associated with all this data. Then it's really Big Brother time

Anyone else think the same? Or am I just paranoid?

Yes that's another one Elphame -- Everyone in shops asking for postcodes and email addresses. When I say no, they are most often taken aback.

I had a woman in Boots actually be quite aggressive when I refused a Boots card. I tried to explain why I don't want to trade my details to a company for a bottle of Pantene. She was amazed. And annoyed.

I am not too worried about giving up my zip code, or my email. Anyone can get that if they want. They can look up my name and address in on line tax records.

Here in the US I am very worried about Trump's voter fraud commission. They have asked every state for voter names, addresses, social security numbers (what we use on every financial application, medical records, taxes, social security claim), how we voted, affiliation with political parties and activist groups. This is not a federal commission and they claim they are not bound by federal data protection laws.

I am not normally a conspiracy theorist but this information would fetch a fortune for identity thieves. It could be used to cause a lot of financial disruption throughout the US. If information were preferentially leaked for people who vote against Trump and are anti-Trump activists it could tie them up for years getting identity theft sorted distracting them from their activities. I don't think Trump would do this per se, but Bannon is an self-described anarchist and this would be right up the alley of an anarchist. It has also lead to droves of people de-registering as voters, who knows how easy they will find it to get back on the electoral rolls when the commission has completed its 'work'?

Cashiers in shops in the US are given targets for numbers of people signed up to get store cards or loyalty cards. If they don't meet the targets they are given warnings and eventually fired.

This attitude let to employees of Wells Fargo opening checking accounts for customers who didn't want two or three or four checking accounts and the associated monthly fees. That was a huge scandal last year.

Businesses need to stop doing that. Employees are there to sell products, not financial services.

Well why wouldn't it? At the moment there is no precedent for carrying ID but the existence of an ID card would demand that it be carried at all times and so it would be used much more commonly.

People already give away their personal information to gain access to 'privileges' e.g. points, designer websites, etc. If these companies started asking for an ID number, why wouldn't people be happy to give that too

Sorry, my last post was replying to Bertie

/and that's why

... I'd noticed a trend amongst (ahem) younger friends not to use their full name / real name as an email address / facebook name - presumably for all the reasons listed above.

Is there any way to change your Facebook name without having to go through the rigmarole of setting up a new account and reconnecting with everyone?

You can change your Facebook name. I've seen friends change from First Name Surname to First Name Middle Name for example.

You can change your Facebook name in your settings :)

I used to work in a fraud investigation unit where criminals would create fake social media profiles in full names (Facebook/Whatsapp were big ones) then add an individual's spouse/child/parents etc and then message them that they need money or they're stuck etc - in one case a woman lost nearly 300k in this way (you don't get this kind of fraud loss back) . That's why you should always use your full real name on social media.

I would love an ID card if it meant I could just go into a bank and open a bank account or register with an estate agent without needing reams of paper.

I think we do probably give out far too much personal data but the thing is, if you want to buy something, you have to give it. If you don't give it, you can't buy the item (online, it's easier to avoid providing info at a bricks and mortar retailer, depending on what you are buying and if you avoid loyalty cards). In the end you have to weigh up the convenience of online shopping versus retailers having your info.

What does annoy me is when people take advantage of it. For example I signed up to an online newsletter which now has a premium version. So now I get the premium version too (so two emails a day) but I don't have a premium subscriptio so can't read the articles, but I can't just unsubscribe from the premium email. I didn't give permission for them to send me the premium email, I only signed up for the other one so that's irritating.

What is also a problem is something my husband said yesterday. I was reading an article about blockchain and bitcoins and suggested he read it too. I don't think either of us were much wiser at the end of it, and he said that there was an issue with some people understanding this techie stuff while most people don't. It means that those who do, can take advantage of those who don't.

@BertieBotts Why on earth would an ID card be "demanded" by companies anyway? We already have forms of national ID as in driving licence and passport. The only time I've ever had my passport number recorded was for official government stuff (like getting my child's passport) or very high security things like opening a bank account or when it's relevant e.g. checking in for a flight. Even if you show driving licence/passport for proof of age they only glance at it, they don't take a copy.

As you say the people that have legitimate requirements to view such items don't usually need to record it, once they have personally verified it. Its the people who don't relay know what they are doing that worry me more. Example: I was joining a local service (a costco type thing, but a bit more local). They needed proof of ID/address, so I showed them my Driving L. There was no space on the form for this, but the clerk started writing down my driver number in the margins. I had to stop him and ask what he was doing.

He had no explanation other than he was "supposed to". If he was actually "supposed to", there'd be a reason and a space on the form. There is no way those forms were securely kept safe. Head Office's response to my complaint was that they needed "proof" that the clerk had seen the correct ID. My reply to that was they should place enough authority on their staff to confirm they had seen and verified id without breaching the DPA! Using my private data as proof their employees weren't dodgy is not acceptable.

The thing is a national ID card will come in gradually, over a generation - there would be too much objection to say from "April 2018", but the next generation of i-phone users will have one - lured by incentives (convenience being the most obvious - "get a mortgage/job/Tesco order by clicking here")

On the whole I don't have any objection, if the state target MN users we have bigger problems as a society.

My friend objects to health authorities sharing information, however how many people who are allergic to penicillin, have ongoing medical conditions, drug or food allergies, or take multiple medicines were medical ID jewellery? Travel out of your county/country and it could save your life.

I do have a friend who through online gaming ended up being seriously stalked. I'm ok with store cards etc and have no paranoia at all but online friendships can go seriously wrong. As soon as you give out your full name your home address is easy to find. He sent her stuff etc and my friend suffered horribly.

I had an online gaming friend who became obsessed with me but he didn't know my family name, he is blocked and has no idea where I live. thank F. I have an actual account with only people I know in real life and an account with my first and middle name only for my online gaming mates.

I think we do probably give out far too much personal data but the thing is, if you want to buy something, you have to give it.

You certainly don't! You can pay cash for pretty much any purchase and you certainly don't need to give out your name, postcode, email or address in order to do so.

Stores might have a policy where staff have to ask, but that doesn't mean you're required to give it.

Having been hacked in the sense they had every fucking detail about me that enabled them to over ride even BT system at the time. Empty bank account, I'm on the non fazed mind now about it. As I was paranoid as fuck that I didn't use the Internet for a year wouldn't even use the phone, tin foil hat shit.

I see it as soon as you go online your open to having details shared, example of this when sky knocked on door asking for my DD who wasn't old enough to register to vote but had a virgin account as couldn't put it in my name at time. When asked he tried to spin some bollocks about electrol role.

Same a store club cards I don't always use them but don't mind if used to give me money off stuff buy.

The only thing that pisses me off if the cold callers getting my details but they have stopped as my entertaining conversation usually gets them to hang up and black list me as bitch waste of time

When shops ask to email receipt I just say no, but if you feel you can't just give them a made up one name. Same as chuggers when they hassle me in street I tell them I don't have Internet etc as I live in a tent in a field

Quack
"I'm a software engineer and I do find that people who work in the computer industry tend to be less open on social media. Not a coincidence"

Well yes. I'm an ex techie and this certainly colours my views. I also am v interested in the security/intelligence side of it. Snowden did reveal the capability of tracking, which is alarming enough. It's the companies acquiring such information capabilities that really scares me. The information that Google/FB/Amazon have on us is terrifying

The most frightening attitude I find is 'if you are not doing anything wrong you have nothing to worry about' . But that assumes a fair and benevolent state. That is not a given, now or in the future

The most frightening attitude I find is 'if you are not doing anything wrong you have nothing to worry about' . But that assumes a fair and benevolent state. That is not a given, now or in the future