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Article: Credit Card Holders to Be Warned of Lists; American Express Collects, Sells Buying Habits Data
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- May 14, 1992
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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In a settlement that could become a model for privacy protection
across the country, American Express Co. agreed yesterday to inform
its 20 million card holders that it tracks their buying habits to
compile marketing lists that it sells to other merchants.
In its agreement with the New York state attorney general's
office, the giant credit card company also said it would make clear
to card holders that they may "opt out" of such lists.
The settlement underscores how, to an ever-increasing extent,
computers allow lenders and merchants to collect information about
their customers, and potentially use it for purposes other than
simply tracking a transaction for billing purposes. The legal ...