Internet Privacy Gets a Black Eye

Companies gathering information from consumers on the Internet need to be upfront about how they will use that content. There is a shocking story in the Thursday March 26th New York Times about how one site, www.realage.com is really passing on consumer’s information to drug companies that turn around and market information about their products who might have a specific condition. The practice raises serious privacy issues in part because the site’s privacy policy does not specifically mention the firm’s relationship with drug companies, and consumers are sent information about drug treatment options before they may have even been diagnosed by a physician. It is certainly proper for companies to request information from consumers or customers. Those that are upfront about the use of information, and don’t sell it to third parties, will not maintain their integrity, they will earn their customer’s trust and business.