How Equifax Became a Private IRS

Re:How Equifax Became a Private IRS by dsfyu404ed on Tuesday January 24, 2023 @08:25AM (#34503224)

>The goal isn't to enshrine abuse of authority in governmental agencies, but to prevent nongovernmental agencies from abusing that authority.

I would much rather just whack the big players with antitrust law than give their power to some government agency. A worthless mission statement of some bureaucracy is just that, worthless. If said bureaucracy is using the same information Equifax is using to provide the same services the abuse potential is right there and it's probably only a matter of time until it starts getting used to screw whoever the outgroup of the minute is.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:How Equifax Became a Private IRS by mindslight on Tuesday January 24, 2023 @11:34AM (#34505924)

Antitrust law isn't a solution here. Many different surveillance companies keeping records on us provides the same problems (if not more) than one large company.

What is sorely needed is privacy legislation that says that data about an individual is fundamentally the property of that individual, and that the license for commercially possessing/processing an individual's data can be revoked at any time. Only then can there be competition in this market.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:How Equifax Became a Private IRS by Teever on Tuesday January 24, 2023 @01:13PM (#34507540)

I don't see why a market based solution is needed here.

What will having a market of providers for this service do for me that having a crown corporation or federal ministry won't?

Let's look at it the other way. Could you imagine privatizing the IRS. Why would I want that?

[ Parent | on HN ]