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TLC Workshop: The Data Detective

This guide outlines the issues with data brokers, the information they collect and privacy issues.

What Are Data Brokers?

Data brokers are companies that collect and sell data regarding consumers.
Data brokers sell data to other companies, individuals or even other data brokers.
In general, data brokers do not interact with the people whose information they collect.
Most people are completely unaware of the information that is being collected on them or that these companies even exist.

Types of Data Brokers

1. People Search Sites

Provide information such as address, phone number, relatives, court records and property records.
Examples: Spokeo, Pipl, PeopleFinder.
Information such as address and phone number free - other data may be fee based.

2. Marketing Data Brokers

Develop snapshots regarding individuals based upon psychographic information such as age, income, education, interests or ethnicity.
Sell the data to companies for highly tailored marketing.

3. Risk Mitigation Product Developers

These brokers collect information about consumers to help mitigate fraudulent transactions.
The company ID Analytics is an example.
If the information that the companies collect is incorrect, consumers have a difficult time correcting the errors.

Examples of Data Brokers

Photo credit Cracked Labs CC BY-SA 4.0