FTC: Consumer Privacy Comments Concerning Cervantes & Associates, Inc.--P974806 CERVANTES & ASSOCIATES, INC. CORPORATE LEGAL & FINANCIAL INVESTIGATIONS 4515 MANCHACA ROAD,
SUITE 206
June 26, 1997 Secretary, Federal Trade Commission RE: Support of Self Regulation Dear Mr. Secretary: In response to the Commission's request for additional comments following the hearings held June 10, 1997, I as a licensed private investigator am a regular user of public and non-public records (such as credit headers), and support the proposition of self regulation. The data that we regularly access and use in our reports to clients has a beneficial use and need in society. It is important that a free flow of information be available to support commerce and our judicial system. It also allows the public, who does not have the resources to manage all of the problems they are faced with, to defend itself without looking to government for help. Further, regulation would create additional barriers to us that today save lives, prevent fraud and bring families together. We are required to keep the information confidential and maintain a high degree of accuracy in our reports due to law and the test of the courts and market place. To have the targets of our investigations able to browse around in our inquiries and data, or opt out of databases that are private and public would the death of our industry and freedom. The prevention of wrong doing and protection of fraud are real tests of the use of data. Privacy protection can be managed through our industries' self regulation of uses and distribution. Our industry had stated a willingness and desire to self regulate. This industry must have the opportunity to self regulate and welcomes the government's help in enforcing the rules, through our efforts and the industries' associations. I ask that you support self regulation and work with the industry to successfully bring about policies and procedures that we can all live with in a free society. Sincerely CERVANTES & ASSOCIATES, INC. George A. Cervantes George A. Cervantes COR:selfreg.ltr |