> It does not seem unreasonable for a service like TrueCaller to notify people that user-generated information about them is being irrevocably added to a globally public repository.
If they live in Europe, as far as I'm aware, they should actually also need the users consent if the information contains anything like a name (which it most likely does) and a way for users to have their personal data erased permanently.
Maybe there's some exception why they don't need to do this; can someone provide some more info on this?
Does every Wikipedia entry about a person in Europe need that person's permission before it can be published? Can I make Wikipedia delete my Wikipedia page permanently with no way for anyone to ever to recreate it? What about a blog post? If a write about a friend of mine doing something on my blog, do I need my friend's written permission before I can post?
Actually, articles on non-famous people require extra notibility as there are more protections for libel. Helpfully, most people with wikis are famous.
If there's a large enough public interest, then information about a person can be published.
And no, I can't just create a wikipedia page for my neighbor and post their phone number there, that'd be illegal and would get me into serious trouble.
That sounds crazy. You mean if I know some guy named Dave and he lives in Europe, to tell somebody about that I need Dave's permission? Moreover, I should give Dave a way to make me forget his name? I'm pretty sure even in Europe things aren't as bad as this. Though who knows...
uh... you do realize there's a legal difference between telling something to a friend and publishing it to the web, right? They're two completely different things.
> I'm pretty sure even in Europe things aren't as bad as this.
I get your point, but from my (European) perspective, it's the rest of the world where things are bad. I personally do quite enjoy the fact that, in theory at least, everyone is not allowed to simply publish my personal information as they see fit.
> there's a legal difference between telling something to a friend and publishing it to the web, right?
Actually no. Most of things I tell my friends I do by publishing it on the Web (e.g. Facebook, or other social forums).
> I personally do quite enjoy the fact that, in theory at least, everyone is not allowed to simply publish my personal information
You realize what you are aiming at is control over the speech of other people? I.e. you say "since other people call me Dave Whatshisname, now every time anybody utters the sequence of letters 'Dave Whatshisname', I want them to ask permission from me beforehand". This "personal information", taken at this form, is an insane construct - in fact, you are asking to control what other people think and speak in private (if the computer records are extension of memory, which effectively they are) about you. I can't imagine larger violation of privacy than that, and yet it is done in the name of privacy. Doesn't it feel weird?
If they live in Europe, as far as I'm aware, they should actually also need the users consent if the information contains anything like a name (which it most likely does) and a way for users to have their personal data erased permanently.
Maybe there's some exception why they don't need to do this; can someone provide some more info on this?