Data brokers collect and sell personal data, using methods like data breaches and social media scraping. Lexus Nexus Risk Solutions is a major player in this industry. Accurant database gathers detailed information on individuals through various sources. Lawsuits highlight warrantless surveillance and lack of consent. Misuse of data systems and need for better legislation emphasized. Proactive steps discussed for protecting privacy and regaining control of personal information.
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Quick takeaways
Data brokers collect and sell vast amounts of personal data without explicit consent, raising concerns about privacy and warrantless surveillance.
Individuals should take proactive steps to protect their own data, including being cautious about consent and using privacy-focused technologies.
Deep dives
Data brokers and their operations
Data brokers, such as Lexus Nexus Risk Solutions, collect and process vast amounts of data about individuals, often without their knowledge. These data brokers employ various methods, such as scraping social media and analyzing data with AI, to gather information and create comprehensive databases. Lexus Nexus, for example, has records on more than 276 million people, including details about their assets, relationships, and personal lives. Their database is used by thousands of government and law enforcement agencies for verification and fraud detection purposes, raising concerns about privacy and warrantless surveillance.
Deceptive practices and lack of transparency
Companies that engage in data collection often use deceptive practices to obtain consumer data, burying information deep within terms and conditions that are rarely read. Consumers are largely unaware of how their data is being collected, sold, and shared. Many companies exploit loopholes in privacy regulations and mislead consumers. This lack of transparency and consumer awareness allows data brokers and other companies to collect massive amounts of personal information without explicit consent, leading to concerns of abuse and privacy violations.
Taking control of personal data and the role of legislation
In order to address the issues surrounding data collection and privacy, individuals should take proactive steps to protect their own data. This includes being cautious about consent and being selective about the services and technologies used. Privacy-focused web browsers and email platforms, as well as informing others about deceptive data collection practices, can help individuals regain some control over their personal information. While legislation like GDPR has been implemented in some regions, the effectiveness of such laws is debated. Ultimately, individuals must advocate for their own rights and privacy, as relying solely on legislative measures may not be sufficient.
Data brokers know a lot about us. They silently harvest any information they can find, by purchasing information, using trackers, scraping social media, ingesting data breaches.
They compile this information into databases, and sell access so that others can sift through the most private and sensitive areas of our lives.
In this video we pull back the curtain on a largest player in this industry - LexisNexis Risk Solutions, and talk about their giant contracts to sell data to governments.
00:00 Data Brokers 01:53 LexisNexis Risk Solutions 04:17 How Your Data is Collected 07:01 Risk to Civil Liberties 11:16 Let's stop normalizing surveillance! 12:25 Lawsuits and Investigations 12:54 What Can We Do 15:20 Proactive Steps You Can Take TODAY
Data is the new currency. Let’s take back control of our information, and make more conscious choices about the technology we use.
The future has not yet been written -- let's write one where privacy prevails and the balance of power lies with the individual. Let's fight against the creeping normalization of surveillance in our lives.
Brought to you by NBTV team members: Reuben Yap, Lee Rennie, Cube Boy, Will Sandoval and Naomi Brockwell