I have just received the following e-mail from a friend about Amazon changing its privacy policy:
Amazon.com has changed it's privacy policy stating that it may sell it's
database including credit card numbers. In protest, I have removed my
1-click settings and my credit card information. I don't mind them
selling my name and address and email address.....but not my credit card
number....that's my property, thank you!
The supporting news is as follows:
Amazon may share data
Retailing giant rethinks privacy policy,
may sell client info
September 1, 2000: 6:45 a.m. ET
SEATTLE (AP) - Internet retailing giant Amazon.com is notifying
customers that their personal information could be shared with
other companies.
Seattle-based Amazon.com (AMZN: Research, Estimates), which
sells products ranging from books to toys to hardware on its site,
has posted a revised privacy policy telling customers the
information they give is considered a saleable asset.
"As we continue to develop our
business, we might sell or buy
stores or assets. In such
transactions, customer
information generally is one of
the transferred business
assets," the policy flagged at
the bottom of the site's main page said Thursday.
The company also said that "in the unlikely event that Amazon.com
Inc., or substantially all of its assets are acquired, customer
information will of course be one of the transferred assets."
Amazon.com is not currently selling or sharing customer
information with other companies, the notice said.
The issue of Internet companies selling customers' personal
information has been contentious recently.
Concerns were brought to the forefront this year when Internet
advertising broker DoubleClick was criticized for a plan to market
a record of Web pages consumers have visited, and after online
retailer Toysmart.com proposed selling its closely held customer
list after filing for bankruptcy protection.
cnnfn.cnn.com
Is Amazon really that desperate? |
