For years now I have advocated that individuals should have control over the use of their names and personal data. I have even suggested that those who shop by mail and have their names sold relentlessly to other junk mail companies be compensated for this use. It has basically fallen on deaf ears, both on the part of the public and those making the decisions on these issues. Personally, I feel it is only right that the junk mail companies make restitution for the millions they make annually from selling names.
The figure is over $4 billion per year. I know. I used to be a broker of mailing lists. In the U.S., households spend more than $3 trillion annually on junk mail products and services. These are my rough figures because the industry refuses to release specifics, but reasonably accurate based on experience. For years the security of our private information has been secondary to profits since 60 percent of name sales is profit.
It is time for Congress to step in to stop the cavalier way junk mailers throw our names and personal data around as if they owned the rights to our namesake. The individual does have rights in this matter and it is time for these rights to be recognized.