Records websites can get our information from property records, voting registries and even divorce decrees. Since all this information is public, it's legal to post it without your permission.
You might remember a time when it was commonplace to look up someone’s phone number or address in the phone book.
While these websites can be handy if you’re looking to make sure that someone you’re hiring or meeting with is who they say they are, many people have raised privacy concerns about their contact information being available with just a quick internet search. "It took so much effort to get the information. You wouldn't go down to the courthouse to find out whether your neighbor's divorce was messy or not. I mean it just wasn't worth it, but you might Google that," Chao explained."Maybe that's information we want private even though previously you could have gotten the information with a lot of effort."
We asked about the privacy concerns people may have with their information being on their site, the company stated there is a free opt-out option people can use to get their information taken down. Opting out is a feature offered on many people finding websites."I don't think normal people have time to do that," Chao said.