Hi Lemmy,

intro I study fine art and for a project I want to buy some of the data from brokers from all of the art students at my university.

The point is to show people how easy it is to get that data.

questions: I have a list of emails and names. Can I go to data brokers and buy all of the data associated with those emails ot does it not work like that?* Can I then combine various datasets and build a better and better collection? How and where do I actually buy that data?

about the project at our annual university festival, I would have old desks with old PCs (like in a government building, or at the DMV) people can come and I will tell them something about them or even print them their data on an old looking printer.

Thank you

  • PeachMan@lemmy.world
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    8 months ago

    Be prepared to get some very angry reactions. People don’t like having their privacy invaded, even if you’re just getting info that’s already out there.

    • middlefielder@lemmy.worldOP
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      8 months ago

      I thought about that too and already have a few ideas of what I could do.

      For instance keep the documentation and legal stuff at the ready where it shows how I legally and rightfullly obtained all of that data.

      Kind of like a terms of service paper

      • PeachMan@lemmy.world
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        8 months ago

        Just because it’s TECHNICALLY legal doesn’t mean people won’t be incredibly pissed off. I would run this project past some administrators at your university, maybe the head or dean of your arts program. You could easily get suspended or expelled for a stunt like this if you piss off the wrong faculty member, it doesn’t have to be illegal to be “conduct unbecoming”.