Research Paper on:
Personal Privacy Issue and Data Processing

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
are thus hundreds of little threads radiating from every man, millions of threads in all. If these threads were suddenly to become visible, the whole sky would look like a  spiders web... They are not visible, they are not material, but every man is constantly aware of their existence" (Records, Computers and the Rights of Citizens, 1973). As data  processing records replaced paper records, men, women and even children found themselves caught up in this invisible spider web complicated by the fact that with easy access to the Internet  many people and businesses have access to this data, which can present a major breach where the issue of personal privacy is concerned. After all, every person who has  a Social Security number has some kind of data processing information on file in a variety of data bases. For example, when applying for a drivers license, passport, mortgage,  loan, health insurance or even a job, personal data must be supplied (The Feds are Following You, 2000). Most medical information is stored in largely uncensored central processing units  and anyone who has access to a state Department of Motor Vehicles data base can not only learn a drivers address but also whether or not he or she has  ever been cited for any speeding or traffic violations (The Feds are Following You, 2000). Any prospective employer, legitimate business or potential creditor can contact either Experian (formerly TRW),  Equifax or Trans Union to obtain the credit transactions of any person with established credit (The Feds are Following You, 2000). There are also independent firms that have extensive  data processing records such as Knowledge-Base Marketing, which can circulate detailed personal profiles on over 200 million Americans, which includes on nearly three-quarters of them, birth and income information (The