Technology Social Issues effecting Real Estate

I believe one of biggest social issue in real estate is computer crime and abuse. I feel it stems from the all the data that is available from the web. United States chooses to make no restrictions on what data can be collected or how it can be used. There are companies like ChoicePoint which has lots of personal information on about 19 million individuals. Their information is criminal records, driver’s records, credit and employment histories, police records, professional licenses and insurance claims. ChoicePoint does sell off the information to businesses. In the past, people posed as businesses and were given vital personal information and able to set up fraudulent accounts. I would have thought that ChoicePoint would have taken some social responsibility into the information that they would sell to others. As we have seen in the past, money has people looking beyond what is the right thing to do. If any of the ChoicePoint executives had sat down for a moment and thought “What of my personal information would I not be comfortable in others having?”, then may have been more restraint. I believe the European Union understands that here needs to be restraints to the use of personal information. I think the United States, should follow them when it comes to accountability, liability and control on information. I believe that most people do not understand how much of their personal information is being obtained. It appears that information is being obtained when a website is visited, order is made, banking or shopping or a search is done. Internet shopping (e commerce) has increased the amount of information that is collected on people. Until chapter 4 in the book, I did not know Google scanned on the emails of their customers. This was a surprise for me and a shock at how much information they have been receiving from my emails. I use my gmail account for personal and business use. My emails are filled with contracts and personal client information. Sometimes, there are bank account numbers or credit card numbers. The European Union has created and enforces informed consent and directs companies to inform people when information was collected and disclose how it will be stored and used. Some of the websites in the US use privacy policies, but they are not governed by anyone. I believe there needs to clearer disclosures made to consumers as to where and how their information will be used. People need to know exactly what they are getting into. The web is becoming a vehicle that many people use but may not understand all the intricacies and hazards that of part of this new way of life. I do not feel companies explain clearly as what information they are obtaining and how they will use it. Our future is leading to more time and information on the internet, the US and companies need to make a joint effort to begin to protect people, so we can use the web safely and continue to grow globally.