There's an interesting story on the home page of http://www.haaretzdaily.com/ disclosing eBay's policy of giving all information they have on a user to any guvment-appearing person who asks for it.
It's well known that eBay ruminates over what fraud could do to its reputation, and employs a slew of former prosecutors and ex-LEA types to be on the constant lookout for it. Nonetheless, it's somewhat stunning to see eBay's policy articulated in print, in somewhat less disingenuous terms than are articulated in the "I Agree" link one clicks when registering with the site. It's probably not a bright idea to login to eBay when just browsing items. ----- ... One fax to eBay from a lawman - police investigator, NSA, FBI or CIA employee, National Park ranger - and eBay sends back the user's full name, email address, home address, mailing address, home telephone number, name of company where seller is employed and user nickname. What's more, eBay will send the history of items he has browsed, feedbacks received, bids he has made, prices he has paid, and even messages sent in the site's various discussion groups. ... -- Eric Michael Cordian 0+ O:.T:.O:. Mathematical Munitions Division "Do What Thou Wilt Shall Be The Whole Of The Law"
