[LINK] Re: [aus3isp] Hop-On

[Grant Bayley]

(A couple of other lists CC:d on this one as a follow-up to this morning's
email about Hop-On.  Please scroll to the bottom first to see the
question from someone that prompted this response)

I've split this email into two parts for each relevent area:

Part One - the Personal Information and usage of it
---------------------------------------------------
The short version:

Any information including your name, address and other identifiable
personal information belongs to them, irrevocably (you can't say "oh
that's my name - give it back").  They can use this information in any way
they like and sell it to anybody they like (the people they sell it to may
further onsell the information as they see fit).

The long version:

The first large chunk of the terms and conditions that I pasted spell out
the fact that any information you provide to them is no longer yours.
You're giving them your name, your address, your phone number and
presumably later on during your use of the service, other identifiable
personal information.  The value of this might not seem particularly
relevent now, but what if, 10 years down the track, this information is
integrated with a medical database that notes that you had a nasty
sexually transmitted disease (or something potentially damaging to the
reputation you've gained in that 10 years) and that treatment for it is
ongoing (perhaps Hepatitis or HIV).  Although you may have a duty of care
to disclose your condition to a potential employer or insurance company,
they have no duty of care aside from common courtesy to not seek out
information on you lest you say "I do not have AIDS" on a life insurance
policy when in fact you have 6 months to live.  The danger here is that
things might come back and bite you when you least expect it.  You're
giving up an element of control over your personal information and not
understanding this now at some level will be at your peril.


Part two: Giving fake information is naughty
--------------------------------------------
The short and the long version:

Having typed in some fake name, you think "cool - they can't track me".
The bad part is that you've agreed to tell the truth (the second part of
my email) and by using the service, you're in theory making a fraud out of
yourself.  Not a smart idea if you have any clue whatsoever.

Part Three: The lack of a privacy policy
----------------------------------------

The short version:

They don't have one

The long version:

By agreeing to the terms and conditions, you've just allowed them to abide
by a privacy policy that consists of three letters: URL.  For all intents
and purposes, might be just a figment of some lawyer on retainer.

Conclusion:
-----------

Want spam?  Want to be integrated into a databases ad infinitum?  Agree to
the terms and conditions.

Grant

-------------------------------------------------------
Grant Bayley                         gbayley@ausmac.net
-IT Manager @ Batey Kazoo            (www.kazoo.com.au)
-Admin @ AusMac Archive, Wiretapped.net, 2600 Australia
 www.ausmac.net   www.wiretapped.net   www.2600.org.au
-------------------------------------------------------

On Mon, 21 Feb 2000, Aero Cloud wrote:

> Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2000 01:54:43 -0800 (PST)
> From: Aero Cloud <aero_cloud@yahoo.com>
> Reply-To: aus3isp <aus3isp@listbot.com>
> To: aus3isp <aus3isp@listbot.com>
> Subject: Re: [aus3isp] Hop-On
> 
> aus3isp - http://aus3isp.cjb.net/
> 
> i dont fully understand what the guy said in the email
> about the terms and conditions
> 
> what seems to be wrong with them???
> well there terms and conditions
> (in simpletons terms)
> 
> 
> thanks
> 
> aero_cloud
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