FTC: Consumer Privacy Comments Concerning Alaska Investigators’ Association--P974806 ALASKA
INVESTIGATORS’ ASSOCIATION July 7, 1997 Secretary, Federal Trade Commission RE: Support of Self Regulation Dear Mr. Secretary: In response to the Commission’s request for additional comments following the hearing held June 10, 1997, I, on behalf of the Board of Directors and membership of the Alaska Investigators’ Association, representing private investigators throughout the great state of Alaska, who are regular users of public and non-public records (such as credit headers), wish to go on record as strongly supporting the proposition of self regulation. The data that 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 they are faced with to defend itself without looking to government for help. Further regulation would create additional barriers to us that today save lives, prevent fraud and bring 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 rest of the courts and market place. To have the targets of our investigations able to browse around in our inquiries and data, or opt out of the databases that are private and public would be the death of our industry and freedom. The prevention of wrong doing and protection from fraud are real tests of the use of data. Privacy protection can be managed through our industries’ self regulation of uses and distribution. Our industry had 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 the industries efforts. 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. I am,
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