What is the effect of technology on access to and privacy of personal information?
As discussed in our comments to question (1.6) above, personal information is a valuable commodity. This is evident from the number of companies that offer online sales of compilations of personal information characterized as mailing lists, lead lists, or marketing lists. And, again, there are already a number of companies that sell compilations of personal information specifically obtained from public court files in bankruptcy cases. However, as far as we have been able to determine, such companies offer Social Security numbers but not yet information about credit card or bank account numbers. If bankruptcy and trustee files are available online to the general public, there should be some limitations on the types of information generally available. The public interest in open court proceedings as well as the privacy interests of debtors could both be served by limiting access to sensitive information to trustees and court personnel directly engaged in the administration of bankruptcy
