Viewpoints Industry Reports on Personal Medical Info Selling

(protect personal medical information)

There has been much in the news lately about big data companies selling personal information about consumers who may have signed up for membership programs, fundraising events and other like situations online. Viewpoints Industry reports on how this can mean the selling of personal medical information.

There are hundred of medical databases for sale to marketers. Personal data brokers and data miners are the top two types of businesses which would buy the names of people on these databases for mere pennies. And unaware consumers who browse online may find their name, address and interests posted in a database for a malady which they do not have. People spend more time online now and are more apt to share health data on a simple registration form. This is where data miners can scoop up personal medical data and sell it to the marketers. Viewpoints Industry TV notes that this is a huge plus for companies that want to pitch products.

While there are federal laws under HIPPA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) to protect personal health information, it only pertains to information shared with a health provider – not third parties. The best way to protect personal health and medical information is to not share it on any website asking for it. If asked to join a product trial for a health or medical item, ask for all disclosure papers, read carefully and do not sign up if there is something that raises questions about it. It’s your personal medical information. Protect it.


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