FTC: Consumer Privacy Comments Concerning Citadel Protection & Investigations, Inc.--P974806
July 6,1997 Chairman, Federal Trade Commission
Dear Mr. Chairman, In response to the Commission's request for additional comments following the hearing held June 10, 1997, I as a licensed private investigator, am a regular user of public and non-public records (such as credit headers ). I firmly support the proposition of self regulation. The data that we regularly access and utilize in our reports to clients has a beneficial use as well as fulfilling a significant need in society. It is critical that a free flow of information be available to support commerce and our judicial system. It also allows the public, who do 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 that today saves lives, prevents fraud and brings 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 marketplace. The prevention of wrongdoing and protection of fraud are the real tests of the use of data. Privacy protection can be managed through our industry’s self regulation of uses and distribution. Our industry has stated a willingness and desire to self regulate. The industry must have the opportunity to self regulate and welcomes the government's help in enforcing the rules, through our efforts and the industry's 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. Respectfully submitted, Gary R. Bleakley Fifty Seven -Fifty Seven Westheimer,
Suite 3-145, Houston, Texas 77057 |