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I can't get worked up about this. E-bay is a wonderful resource, but is also inherently prone to being abused for fraud and trafficking in stolen goods. A very strict privacy policy would quickly turn it into Disneyland for criminals. E-bay's management is eager to help catch the criminals, in order to protect us honest people, and keep the site a safe place to shop. Has anyone produced any evidence of E-Bay handing over information inappropriately? And any company will turn over credit card transaction info with a court order -- how do you think they found those two kidnapped children in Florida yesterday?

And any company will turn over credit card transaction info with a court order -- how do you think they found those two kidnapped children in Florida yesterday?

That's the key phrase - with a court order. EBay will gladly provide this information to ANY LEO who simply faxes the request to them without a court order. If they did this with a court order I would have no problem with it.

I can't get worked up about this. E-bay is a wonderful resource, but is also inherently prone to being abused for fraud and trafficking in stolen goods. A very strict privacy policy would quickly turn it into Disneyland for criminals. E-bay's management is eager to help catch the criminals, in order to protect us honest people, and keep the site a safe place to shop. Has anyone produced any evidence of E-Bay handing over information inappropriately?

I have often felt that Ebay had or could become the international stolen goods fencing operation for many people. I wonder if Ebay would turn over sales info to the IRS if the IRS wanted to troll for people running a tax free business. I would not be surprised.

I had a cop at my house a few months ago (after we had a break-in) who told us that one of our neighbors had been busted with a house full of stolen goods that he was fencing on Ebay.