Information Resellers: Consumer Privacy Framework Needs to Reflect Changes in Technology and the Marketplace

Information resellers—sometimes also called data brokers, data aggregators, or information solutions providers—offer several types of products to customers that include retailers, advertisers, private individuals, nonprofit organizations, and law enforcement and other government agencies. Consumer reporting agencies—including the three nationwide credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion—provide consumer reports that commonly are used to determine eligibility for credit, employment, and insurance. Some resellers offer products that help companies comply with legal requirements or identify, investigate, and prevent fraudulent transactions (for example, by enabling confirmation of a customer’s identity). Some information resellers, such as Spokeo and Intelius, also offer individual reference services that sell personal identifying information about consumers to individuals or companies.