Gay boys, the FTC has your back: Defunct magazine, XY, cannot sell members’ data
”The XY privacy policy is simple, explicit, and clear. Subscribers and members were told that their personal information would not be sold, shared, or given away to ‘anybody.’ Therefore, any sale or transfer of the data to a new company, new owner, or other third party would directly contravene the privacy representations and could constitute a deceptive practice by the original company or its principals.”
David Vladeck, described by PCWorld as the director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection for the Federal Trade Commission. According to a July 1 letter from Vladeck, a gay youth-oriented magazine, XY, ceased publication after 11 years. And a companion website, XY.com, was not deactivated until 2009. During those many years hundreds of thousands of subscribers and members submitted their personal information under a self-described “Amazing Privacy Policy.” The FTC contends, that transferring of that personal data to new owners would violate the terms agreed to by the users, many of whom were minors. Vladeck and the FTC’s decision shows particular sensitivity by expressing an concern that difficult situations could arise if material were sent to the homes of gay minors, or possibly be forwarded to old e-mail addresses that have been reassigned to new account holders. They (PC World) (FTC’s letter) (CNET)
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