Thwarting big brother.

• Autores: Rodger Doyle
• Localización: Scientific American, ISSN 0036-8733, Vol. 291, Nº. 6, 2004, págs. 33-33
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • This article explores the degree of privacy protection provided by U.S. states. The federal government provides substantial protection of personal information in official files and maintains a "do not call" list, but overall it offers few safeguards for private data. State legislatures, on the other hand, are often able to enact simple and strong consumer protection measures. The map classifies the 50 states and the District of Columbia on the basis of their recent track records in defense of privacy. Topping the list is California, where the legislature has recently passed new, stronger privacy laws and where the courts are vigilant in their enforcement. Wyoming ranks at the bottom; it has no protections for Social Security numbers, library records, bank accounts, medical records and genetic data, no laws for identity-theft victims, no rights for individuals to access their own employment records in state agencies, and no right to privacy by law.