After reading some emails that are advertisements and listening to some computerized phone calls from various institutions I’ve noticed in the disclaimers that my"privacy" is important to THEM>.
My question is why?
It’s important to them because it’s important to the people they want as their customers.
More accurately, they *say *it’s important to them because they think their customers or would-be customers will be happier if they say that.
How well they actually *do *what they say is a very different thing.
Going back to the OP, many people, myself included, would prefer a world where other organizations knew as little as possible. The only thing they can do with information about me is use it to their advantage. Which by definition is not to my advantage.
Because it’s very important that when a company spends $10,000,000 on a system to protect your credit card numbers that their customers know that. Of course they forget to tell you that the minimum wage clerk often has access to all these numbers and can just get them that way 
They want you to stop sending nude pics of yourself to them.
Good, I don’t have to explain that privacy is important because bad people can do bad things to you with some of your information.
But, yeah–it’s because people have started to become aware that many companies do not respect privacy, and will sell your information to the the highest bidder. And since most people are very unlikely to read a full privacy statement, a little platitude goes a long way.
There are a lot of ways that PII can be used for evil. I dated a doctor for several years, who has subsequently (for the last three years or so) been keeping track of my medical status without my consent, despite repeated complaints to the hospital she works for. There’s nothing in my medical records that I worry about, it’s just… creepy and irritating, and makes me want to fake a bad case of the clap with an explanatory note that it was contracted while still dating her. :eek:
I’m going to go against the grain of the answers given so far and say that those privacy notices are actually a CYA of how they will SHARE your information (to your benefit of course.)
It’s the exact opposite of what people think they are.
Here’s an example of a privacy policy from my insurance company.
The phrases that are in big fonts and bolded are:
"OUR PRIVACY PRINCIPLES"
and
"WE PROTECT CUSTOMER INFORMATION"
That certainly sounds very reassuring doesn’t it?
Ok… what interesting sentences are not in big fonts? Hmmm… here’s one:
“We may share information about you with persons or organizations inside or outside our family of companies as permitted or required by law, including sharing with companies that perform marketing or other services for us or with whom we have joint marketing agreements. These agreements allow us to provide a broader selection of insurance and financial products to you.”
They’re telling you they’ll share information “inside or outside” the company. Well, that’s everybody isn’t it? If they want to share the information with your future employer or a porn company in Amsterdam, they can do so. They informed you as such! You think they can’t release (sell) your financial information to banks that want to pitch you investment products? Don’t be silly, all they have to do is enter a “joint marketing agreement” with them.
This particular Privacy Policy example had a total of 1,500 words in small print. They’re counting on folks not studying it carefully.
Every Privacy Policy I’ve seen has those weasel phrases in it.
Have you ever been put on hold for 30 minutes listening to a recording saying, “Your call is important to us”? Same thing.
Yeah, pretty much. Window dressing and feelgood propaganda from a company that might very well be using your personal info in ways which would appall you.
It’s none of your business why.