Health information collected, sold by ‘data broker' industry

A multi-billion dollar industry “that largely operates hidden from consumer view” is systematically collecting, using and selling consumer data for marketing purposes, according to a 42-page report from the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.

The report culminated from a one-year investigation into the practices of nine companies that collect and sell consumer information--Acxiom, Experian, Epsilon, Reed Elsevier, Equifax, TransUnion, Rapleaf, Spokeo and Datalogix.

These “data brokers” collect a “huge volume of detailed information on hundreds of millions of consumers,” including health information, financial information and data on consumers’ personal characteristics. Among health data collected are mental and physician conditions as well as health status as monitored through wearable devices.

For example, the report noted that Epsilon collects data on whether consumers suffer from particular ailments, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, depression, diabetes, high blood pressure, insomnia and osteoporosis, among others; Acxiom keeps data on the weights of individuals in a household.

Consumer health profiles are created through algorithms based on individuals' social media and web searches, according to the report.

“The responses underscore that consumers have minimal means of learning–-or providing input–-about how data brokers collect, analyze and sell their information,” the committee concluded. The committee reiterated the need for government oversight and consumer protections.

Read the full report here.