Imagine having all of your personal information posted on a website for the world to see. Well that is exactly what has happened to many New Yorkers — and the issue is causing quite a stir, Gene Apodaca reports from Sunnyside, Queens.
"That is creepy," said one Sunnyside resident upon realizing his personal information was easily available to strangers on the internet.
He said he was shocked to learn just how quickly we were able access his personal information —not only finding his address, but those of his relatives and other people he knew.
"I don't feel good about it," he said. "I don't like it all. They don't ask me for my permission to do that or again it's very invasive. It's a creepy, icky feeling."
The website Family Tree Now says it compiles the information from various public records. However, some worry it goes too far.
It not only shows your age, year of birth, addresses — current and past — in many cases that of all your relatives and associates too.
"So it has Loretta, that's my sister," said one shocked Sunnyside resident. "How do you think I feel about it? Of course I'm angry and mad but the only thing you can do is protect yourself."
Although the website has strict guidelines prohibiting the use of the service to stalk or harass people, it's up to the user to comply.
One woman says while she's not happy about having all her information out there she believes the site can be put to good use.
"Like adopted kids like orphans they can search their name if they have their real name and find out about their family I think that's cute and cool," she said.
Still whose information is safe? We investigated and found personal information available for several elected officials in the city. Including their home addresses and relatives. Even though the site has a policy against using the service to seek out celebrities and politicians.
There is a way to opt out. Simply visit the website's opt out page. The site says it could take up to 48 hours to affect.