Hotels could possibly be breaking data protection laws and illegally storing information about guests. A recent article by TimesOnline (UK) discussed the privacy risks that hotels are subjecting guests to. The hotels claim that by keeping the information they are able to improve service, even though collecting the information without the guests' knowledge or consent is against the Data Protection Act.
Information being stored includes credit card numbers, family-life information, occupation, nationalities, and even some other activities including consumption of alcohol and names of overnight visitors with the guest. Don't order an adult film or be rude to someone at the front desk, because that goes into your "permanent record." It's like middle school all over again.
Other information, which is not as sensitive, is also recorded. Employees use Internet searches to find information about the guests, ranging from the books or movies they like to a favorite sport. The file is then given out to the hotel employees, because this "systematic approach" to invasion of privacy seems to be the best method of customer service.
I can see the logic behind this method...but I also remember someone telling me "The road to hell is paved with good intentions." How does this massive invasion of privacy help out that much? I understand keeping a profile of hotel-related activities such as if a smoking room is preferred. But knowing my favorite channels and the type of alcohol I drink at the hotel bar seem to be details that do not help the hotel...and make me feel uncomfortable. The hotel employees do not need to know that much personal information. I especially do not need a manager Googling me or looking at a MySpace page to get personal information.
1 comment:
Thanks for writing this.
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