Privacy

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A place to discuss privacy and freedom in the digital world.

Privacy has become a very important issue in modern society, with companies and governments constantly abusing their power, more and more people are waking up to the importance of digital privacy.

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Is there such a thing as a data broker map? (lemmy.world)

submitted 5 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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So, this is probably naive of me, but so far I haven’t really been able to find the answer on the web.

Recently I subscribed to a personal info removal company called Incogni, only to find out that they sent a staggering 123 removal requests on my behalf. I never imagined there were that many companies in that business. So far in 20 days, 70 requests have been fulfilled, but 53 are still pending.

Which made me wonder… given my personal data seems to be sold, re-sold and re-re-sold without my express consent, or ability to opt out… if I knew I’ve informed my legit service providers, plus those I have legit obligations to (employer, state, etc.)… how easy would it be to obfuscate it on a regular basis, by simply providing a new, creative address, to entities I don’t get mail communication, or deliveries, from?

So, has anyone tried to trace the map by which a new address, cell phone number, etc. makes its way through the 123 or so data brokers? What are the ‘input nodes’ to that graph?

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago

Let me take a real life example here. Let's say I'm worried about SIM-swapping schemes, and I go and get a phone number for my banking, and my banking only. If THAT number suddenly shows up in the midst of the 123+ so data brokers, then clearly, me getting a phone number dedicated to avoiding SIM-swapping, is useless. That's one of the use cases. Makes sense?