Actually, pretty sure you've got a ready made shareholder lawsuit sitting there, because any of those companies who AREN'T getting paid for the data is doing a disservice to shareholders, and I'll wager these payments aren't being openly identified on income sheets.
Of course, the level of my legal knowledge of such things is minimal. But spread that even further - credit card companies, banks, instant loan stores, precious metal sellers, forums... All of those entities likely have had compliance requests, and likely never reported any compensation for those requests as income to shareholders, or failed to request compensation.
“Actually, pretty sure you’ve got a ready made shareholder lawsuit sitting there, because any of those companies who AREN’T getting paid for the data is doing a disservice to shareholders, and I’ll wager these payments aren’t being openly identified on income sheets.
Of course, the level of my legal knowledge of such things is minimal. But spread that even further - credit card companies, banks, instant loan stores, precious metal sellers, forums... All of those entities likely have had compliance requests, and likely never reported any compensation for those requests as income to shareholders, or failed to request compensation.”
You are exactly on target.
This is data mining by and for government use, not for some business.
Add to that list your utilities, your city/county tax office, state vehicle registration and credit reporting companies. All those entities put your info on their computers which can be either paid for or spooked on by Big Brother.