In a column for The New York Times, Natasha Singer reports on her personal investigation on how information brokers use and share some of her personal data. Singer notes that "there's no easy way for consumers in the United States to track the data dealers who profile our spending, web browsing and social media habits" for the purpose of advertising. By subscribing to a number of magazines--spelling her name differently for each one--Singer was able to track with whom her information was shared. "Although all of the magazines contacted for this article said the subscribers could opt out," Singer wrote, "some publishers took a more active approach than others to notifying readers of their practices." (Registration may be required to access this story.)
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