Data brokers have detailed files on you. Here’s what’s in them — and how it impacts you
Data brokers build detailed profiles on individuals that can include financial records, health information, and behavioral habits. These profiles are bought and sold to companies that use them for a wide range of purposes.
Why this matters: Most people have no idea this industry exists, let alone what it knows about them. Data brokers do not ask permission. They collect, combine, and sell your information to anyone willing to pay. The buyers can be insurers, employers, landlords, or advertisers. You rarely find out. The profile sitting on a server somewhere may shape decisions that affect your life, and you have almost no way to see it, correct it, or stop it from moving.
Who should care: General readers · Privacy officers · Policy
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