The message below provides some good info. Jay From: "Gord Hines" <ghines@sk.sympatico.ca> To: <NYJEFFER-L@rootsweb.com> Subject: Privacy and Genealogy on the Internet [including mail list groups]: Something to Consider Date: Tuesday, March 06, 2001 6:21 PM Hi All -- Sharing genealogical information can be quite fulfilling and rewarding... However, some recent postings on several mail lists have included data on LIVING INDIVIDUALS, including CHILDREN. I am concerned that some, perhaps just beginning genealogy and family history, are unaware of the potential harm they might be creating for their living relatives. I hope you all will agree and indulge me in this departure from the more customary postings to this list. It is not my intent to start an extended dialog on the topic on this list. I simply want to bring this to the attention of those who might not given the matter too much thought. This is a plea to each list member that you DO NOT POST information about LIVING individuals into these public forums without their knowledge and consent .... and especially NOT FOR LIVING CHILDREN, EVER! Children's rights to their own privacy as adults should not be compromised by their parents nor by any other relatives [aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents etc.].. For an excellent example of a "policy" that can serve as a guide for all genealogists [whether beginner, seasoned amateur and professional], see this Texas GenWeb site: < http://home.sprynet.com/~harrisfarm/warning.htm > There are several links on this TXGenWeb page that will connect you to more explanations of issues dealing with Privacy and Civil Liberties in the internet environment. Major concerns relate to identity theft and to compromising personal privacy of others [without their consent]. Once "out there" on the www [e.g. on a homepage, in an email list archive, or in a Gedcom file uploaded to any of dozens of genealogy database websites] any information on living individuals moves permanently into the public domain.... "once the toothpaste is out of the tube, it can't be put back in" This applies to personal information once "published" or otherwise "let loose" into the public arena. There is no way to retrieve the information and restore it to its original "private" and "unpublished" condition. Many parents today even avoid birth announcements in newspapers -- although these are slowly being transcribed and posted on-line at various sites. While they might seem to be innocuous today, they can lead to troubles in the future.... not for everyone, to be sure.... but for some, for certain. So I implore you all.... become familiar with personal privacy issues and concerns with this (new) internet technology.... and do NOT POST information about LIVING individuals into these public forums without their knowledge and consent .... and especially NOT FOR CHILDREN EVER. Their rights to their own privacy as adults should not be compromised by their parents or any other relatives. A very good article on this topic, titled "ADVENTURES IN CYBERSPACE", by Myra Vanderpool Gormley, can be seen at < http://www.ancestry.com/columns/myra/Shaking_Family_Tree07-09-98.htm > It is also illustrative to look at requirements in the "CODE OF CONDUCT OF THE AMATEUR GENEALOGIST" for Member States of the European Union, at < http://www.genealogyprivacy.org/en/ch3v10en.html > The homepage (English language) contains added relevant information, at < http://www.genealogyprivacy.org/en/homepage.html > // Regards, Gord Hines (in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada) ps: You should be equally careful about sending data for any living individuals in (so-called) "personal" email to new-found cousins or others researching your family lineages. A high level of trust or, better yet, a "formal agreement" or understanding about use of the data on living persons should exist before such data is provided. There are many stories about data on living individuals being freely given to cousins and that turns up a year or so later on some genealogy company's CD archive [for sale!] or in a Gedcom file posted for free download in the public domain! // grh

"J.M. (Jay) Ingalls" wrote: > The message below provides some good info. > Jay > From: "Gord Hines" <ghines@sk.sympatico.ca> > To: <NYJEFFER-L@rootsweb.com> > Subject: Privacy and Genealogy on the Internet [including mail list groups]: > Something to Consider > Date: Tuesday, March 06, 2001 6:21 PM > > Hi All -- Sharing genealogical information can be quite fulfilling and > rewarding... > > However, some recent postings on several mail lists have included data on > LIVING INDIVIDUALS, including CHILDREN. I am concerned that some, > perhaps just beginning genealogy and family history, are unaware of the > potential > harm they might be creating for their living relatives. (Shortened) Okay, first of all DO NOT take this as a FLAME or HATE mail because that IS NOT what I intended. I don't want the threat of being reported to the Rootsweb police because of a misunderstanding. Okay, I understand that there are WACK-Os out there that could use the info provided the wrong way. What I don't like is finding a possible link to family members but then SLAMMING face first into the wall because the info. that is private like on FTM. I can understand if you don't have the information, but darn it I can eliminate 50-75% of the people if the info. wasn't privatized. If you don't want to give me death dates I can live with that, but can I have a place of birth or a birth year at least! With just that I can narrow it down even more. Also, maybe I what to contact them because there are too many similarities and OOPS! no info. so I can't contact you sorry, you can't find your relatives!!! Can you understand how irritating that can be? I think you can because I'm sure you have come across it. There are an can be measures put in place so only registered users get the information and they should be held accountable for their actions. Sorry, if I stepped or stomped on any toes. Kim Pollard Still looking for "Jerry" Palmer/(Possibly) Jeremiah b. 1883 and Nathan S. Palmer b. 1885 to Parents Edwin/ Edward and Lydia Jane (Irish) Palmer in Grand Traverse City.