European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 25, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Are people being too Nosy by Michael Decourcy Hinds new York times he privacy of personal records those collected by employers insurers retailers and other private organizations is primarily protected by the Inch of interest in them not by Law when curiosity or a business interest develops privacy May vanish. Thai happened Asl september when a weekly newspaper in Washington published a profile of judge Robert m blk based on 146 films his family had rented from a video store Al the Lime the Senate judiciary Commilles was holding hearings on tha judge s nomination to the supreme court. The family s preference Lor Alfred Hal Choek and Gary Grant films Drew Little National interest but Many senator and representatives Wert stunned by what they regarded As an invasion of privacy. Alter an. If a judge s viewing habits were newsworthy so Weie those of members of Congress the House quickly introduced legislation forbidding Lel Ailers irom disclosing video rental records without a customer s permission or court order. Hearings on the Bill Are expected soon a similar measure which is widely supported is expected to go before i he Senate. State and local legislators have also picked up the privacy Issue. In Maryland a Bill modelled on the Federal legislation is waiting o be signed by the governor the District of Columbia Council recently sponsored Simitar Paga 16 the stars and stripes legislation. Privacy advocates who have Long lobbied Lor stronger protections Lor personal records Hope hat the Bork Mailer will galvanize interest in a More comprehensive review of privacy Protection. Most existing Laws port Nind to records about individuals project the privacy of records held by government agencies but relatively Lew Laws project records thai Are collected by private institutions and businesses. Privacy advocates say people should have the right to View All their files Correct them in necessary and limit their distribution. The video Bill is one of the firs pieces of legislation in years that would create a privacy right in records held by the private sector sold Jan Tori Goldman a lawyer with Hie project on privacy and technology of the american civil liberties Union in Washington it s a beginning a modest beginning she said. But the video Bill May be the first evidence of a resurgence of interest in the privacy  Evan now semite Star members Are considering broadening the video Bill to include records of materials borrowed from libraries. About half the stale already have such Laws the legislative proposals have widespread support. Librarians have endorsed any proposal to keep borrowing records private last year Ikey rejected requests by the Fri to compile a Lisl of people who borrowed books on subjects thai might Aid terrorists. Even video dealers who could be fined s10.uoo for Friday. March 25,1988 improperly releasing record support he legislation they suy business could Gutter if customers wore and assured of privacy but Jack Sharer the editor of City paper the weekly trial ignited the Issue by lampooning the Bork Amity s viewing habits said tha legislation Only prohibits stores Iron giving away the into Mallon. Bui that won t prevent a paper gelling hold of if by stealth and  Robert Ellis Smith publisher of tha privacy journal a monthly in Washington that advocates greater privacy Protection sees no need Lor the video legislation. I be not seen anybody concerned about this Issue before he said i would rather see a More systematic approach to protecting the privacy of an retail records. What la sensitive to one person in t to the next. And thai in Why we have this uneven Patchwork Protection Over the privacy of  privacy Laws Are based on the fourth amendment to the Constitution which guarantees people the right to a secure in heir persons houses papers and effects boat nil unreasonable searches and seizures Congem about privacy began to grow As record keeping become automated to tha 1950s. After watergate. Congress passed Laws giving people Access to government records and restricting Federal agendas irom exchanging personal records without obtaining consent or court orders. Subsequent Federal Laws provided limited privacy Protection to records involving school credit and financial reports electronic communication and purchases made by subscribers ordering products and movies on Cable television. States have also passed privacy Laws but most regulate records controlled by government entities not private ones. There is not going la be any omnibus privacy legislation in the near future said Jerry Berman. Director of the american civil liberties Union s privacy project. So whenever the Opportunity arises to create privacy prec Defils like the video Biff we endorse  consumer Lea ton and privacy advocate say that they Are Rosl concerned about invasions of privacy thai can occur with records on medical treatment and insurance.  privacy procedures up to the insurance Industry is like tatting tha automobile iral usury write their own safety rules said or. Jerome 3. Beigler a Chicago psycho Alris who Heads the american psychoanalytic association s committee on confidentiality. Many people who seek help from menial health Protess Mala do not submit insurance claims he said because their records Are too easily accessible to employers and insurers. Russet p. Uculano a spokesman for the american Council of Ufa insurance a Trade group addressed these criticisms in an interview saying Hal the insurance Industry voluntarily complies with disclosure guidelines issued by the National association of insurance commissioners a professional organization of stale commissioners. The Industry s compliance however is uneven according to a recent study by the congressional office of technology assessment. The study found that underwriters at Many insurance Corn Panias considered sexual orientation in health insurance applications a violation of the commissioners guidelines. Privacy experts say thai companies share personal in formation in ways hat do not Bane rite consumer. When people give informal Jon Tor a credit card Apps attn they Don t expect the is or another company to get it later said is. Goldman of the Acle fueling this concern is the vast amount of personal information being collected by credit card issuers Banks and merchants in doing business and targeting promotions. Is it really in your interest Hal extensive dossiers can be created on your habits and taste asked Frederick w. Weingarten. A program manager in the congressional Ohio of technology assessment suspicion to said is imbedded in this country. In the Constitution and in our value system. We Don t want people being Loo