FTC: Consumer Privacy Comments Concerning Outsource Investigations--P974806 OUTSOURCE INVESTIGATIONS July 7, 1997 Chairman, Federal Trade Commission Re. Support of Self-Regulation Dear Mr Chairman, 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 no-public records, and support the proposition of self-regulation. The data 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 with which they are faced, to defend itself without looking to the government for help. Further regulation would create additional barriers to the use of information which today saves lives., prevents fraud, and brings families together. We are required to keep the information confidential and maintain a high degree of integrity and accuracy in our reports, due to law and the test of the courts and the marketplace. To have the targets of our investigations be able to browse around in our inquiries and data, or opt out of databases which are private and public would be the death of our industry and freedom. The prevention of wrongdoing and the protection from fraud are 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. This industry must have the opportunity to self- regulate, and welcomes the government's help in enforcing the rules, through our efforts and those of the industry's associations. I ask that you support self-regulation and work with the industry to successfully bring about policies and procedures which we can all live with in a free society. Respectfully submitted, Andrew C. Albright Jr.Andrew C. Albright Jr. |