Merging Media and the Market

“To each, their own”

I’d just like to vent today because my family has just had the unfortunate experience of learning that those who could potentially cause us harm can easily locate us through the use of new media.  My husband works in criminal justice, and his employer just sent out an officer safety bulletin stating that a sworn officer received threats to himself and his family following an arrest.  The suspect had detailed information about the officer’s family, residences and phone numbers. 

These criminals used the site www.intelius.com to purchase these personal records for $2.95.  This Web site gathers: name, age, address history, phone numbers, birth dates, income and family information from a variety of public sources: utility bills, court records etc.  The least this Web site could do is use the information they sell to do a background check on their customers, as opposed to just offering this private information up to anyone with three dollars.  While I realize that this information is public and could be ultimately compiled by anyone this Web site has taken all the grunt work out of it.  At least in the good old days, criminals would have to visit the correct courthouses and dig through the public records themselves.  But now, thanks to new media, criminals can pay a nominal fee and get a accurate record of my family’s life in less than a minute.  And just so you know I visited this Web site and was appalled by the information it contained on my family and that anyone and their brother has such easy access to it. 

I appreciate the attributes of new media and public records alike.  But whoever thought is was a good idea to put these two things together on the internet and sell it to the masses is a jerk face.  And I’d punch them if in the nose if it wouldn’t hurt my little arthritic hands so much.  The idea that some criminal could track, harass, or even hurt our family simply because my husband was doing his job is sickening.  Needless to say our information will soon be removed from this Web site.  Oh and don’t worry, if someone gets ahold of your social security number they can also find out the rest of your identity through this site. 

Unfortunately, this Web site operates under a don’t ask/don’t tell policy where they assume their service is OK with you unless you inform them otherwise.  To have your information removed from this Web site customer service at Intelius recommends that you enter your name and state into their Web site, print off the results page, and circle the names you want removed.  You may then fax or mail a written request to be removed from the site to Intelius at: 500 108 Avenue NE, Suite 1600, Bellevue, WA 98004 or fax the request to (425) 974-6194.  The information will supposedly be removed within one week.