A motion in the USGW AB failed last night. This motion would have required the USGW Archives-TX to remove data on living individuals. (They have thousands of birth records online even for children). I now ask the GAGenWeb leadership to allow the formation of an official committee to construct a Privacy Policy for GAGenWeb sites. This policy would (hopefully) pioneer a mindset within USGenWeb that we are genealogists who help others research their ancestors, not living individuals, and also that USGenWeb SHOULD be taking the lead in promoting online privacy in genealogical circles. I volunteer myself for this committee as I am a Privacy Rights Clearinghouse contact on the subject of Identity Theft/Internet. Let's please take the lead on this issue. GAGenWeb has been professionally and aptly operated for almost a year now and I feel it's time we break out and show others we can lead where necessary. --Keith

Keith (and all), I think this sounds like a good idea. I don't know if it is something that should be part of GAGenWeb's new Bylaws/Guidelines or if it should be a separate policy but I do believe it is an important issue. I am in support of protecting the privacy of living individuals but did not support the motion you mentioned because it had a very narrow scope (ie, just Texas) and the archives just recently adopted a policy concerning these records and are in the process of putting that new policy into action. The specific complaint that was brought to the attention of the AB is being addressed individually. However, I agree that this issue is best dealt with in a proactive manner, rather than waiting until individuals realize their information is available and complain about it, I think there should be policies in place and enforced that keep this from occurring. I don't believe that we can enforce the exclusion of every mention of a living individual but with birth records for example, the individuals name along with the maiden name of the mother and the birth date are included. These are 3 very important pieces of information needed to invade another's privacy. I don't know how much can be done with JUST this information but I still believe we should not be making it readily available. I would be willing to be involved in discussions of this matter to help form a policy for GAGenWeb County sites. A few months ago there was a lot of activity using the search engine of my personal research site which included searches for my name in various forms with + mother and + parents and +maiden and +birth which obviously aroused my curiosity (and ire!) Linda Blum-Barton -----Original Message----- From: Keith Giddeon [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, March 29, 2005 8:26 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [GAGEN] Privacy Committee A motion in the USGW AB failed last night. This motion would have required the USGW Archives-TX to remove data on living individuals. (They have thousands of birth records online even for children). I now ask the GAGenWeb leadership to allow the formation of an official committee to construct a Privacy Policy for GAGenWeb sites. This policy would (hopefully) pioneer a mindset within USGenWeb that we are genealogists who help others research their ancestors, not living individuals, and also that USGenWeb SHOULD be taking the lead in promoting online privacy in genealogical circles. I volunteer myself for this committee as I am a Privacy Rights Clearinghouse contact on the subject of Identity Theft/Internet. Let's please take the lead on this issue. GAGenWeb has been professionally and aptly operated for almost a year now and I feel it's time we break out and show others we can lead where necessary. --Keith ==== GAGEN Mailing List ==== USGenWeb's motto is - Volunteers dedicated to free, on-line information.

> I volunteer myself for this committee as I am a Privacy Rights > Clearinghouse contact on the subject of Identity Theft/Internet. I agree with you Keith. If I could spare any time, I would be willing to be involved in forming a policy for GAGenWeb. If I can't spare the time, I will be a cheerleader....<g> Bettie <><