USPS ‘shared customer postal addresses’ with Meta, LinkedIn and Snap

TL;DR


1. The United States Postal Service (USPS) has been sharing customer address information with tech companies such as Meta (Facebook), LinkedIn, and Snap (Snapchat) without the knowledge or consent of its customers. This data-sharing arrangement has raised concerns about privacy and the potential misuse of personal information.

2. The USPS has defended the practice, stating that it is part of a long-standing program that allows approved commercial entities to access customer address information for the purpose of verifying addresses and improving the delivery of mail and packages. However, the lack of transparency and the scope of the data-sharing have drawn criticism from privacy advocates and lawmakers.

3. Experts have warned that the USPS's data-sharing practices could have significant implications for individual privacy, as the shared information could be used for targeted advertising, marketing, or other purposes without the knowledge or consent of the affected customers. The controversy has sparked calls for greater oversight and transparency from the USPS regarding its data-sharing activities.

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