1994 Equifax/Harris Consumer Privacy Survey
A Message From Equifax
Equifax is proud to present the 1994 Equifax-Harris Consumer Privacy
Survey, the fifth in a series of such surveys we have sponsored since 1990.
These surveys give substance to our pledge to provide Information Leadership
for the Information Age.
One significant way in which we fulfill this pledge is through our sponsorship
of consumer privacy surveys. Conducted by Louis Harris & Associates,
these surveys are highly respected and widely referenced by a vast array
of publics: legislators, regulators, consumer and special interest groups,
academicians, business and professional associations, and the media.
In addition to the general privacy questions we track each year, I think
you will see that this year's survey also provides some very interesting
findings on consumer attitudes about several issues that are timely and
relevant to current public policy debates. In particular, the survey sheds
new light on consumer opinion about establishing a national work identification
system and card, a national health care identifier, and what constitutes
fair criteria for underwriting automobile insurance policies.
As an information leader, the Equifax commitment to consumers is to
provide uncompromising care and integrity in the handling of sensitive,
personally identifiable consumer information and to establish and adhere
voluntarily to a strong and meaningful set of fair information practices.
To that end, last year we published the Equifax Code, specifying our beliefs
about consumer rights to privacy and cataloging the actions we have taken
to put those beliefs into practice. More recently, we developed and pub
licized a stringent set of health information privacy principles to govern
our initiatives and emergence as a major player in the health information
services industry. Similarly, as we expand our operations around the world,
as the global information source, we have committed to developing a set
of worldwide privacy principles to govern our practices in every market
we serve.
A well-earned privacy reputation is fast becoming a competitive edge,
and we are proud that Congress, our customers, and many of our critics
have applauded the pro-consumer and privacy-sensitive practices Equifax
has put into place, setting a standard for the industry and a model for
government.
Delivering information solutions is our business. So, to maintain our
reputation and competitive advantage, Equifax must know consumer attitudes
about a wide range of privacy-related issuesso that we can make good business
decisions on products and services we offer and so that we can continue
to contribute to the public policy debates and national, and even international,
dialogue about concerns of importance to all stakeholders. Our privacy
surveys have served us well in both capacities.
Planning and conducting surveys of this magnitude and producing the
final report is a formidable task, requiring many months of detailed work.
For their significant contribution in bringing this report to fruition,
I thank noted privacy expert Dr. Alan Westin, Columbia University professor
and academic advisor to the survey; Dr. Joy Sever, Project Director, Louis
Harris & Associates; and John Ford, Equifax Project Manager.
At Equifax, we believe that achieving Information Leadership for the
Information Age demands real innovation. It demands cooperation so that
business, consumers, and government can more easily bridge differences
and increase mutual understanding. We believe our consumer privacy surveys
contribute to that cause.
C. B. Rogers, Jr.
Equifax Chairman and CEO
