tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527613590529958801.post1375574371510264837..comments2024-03-21T19:08:05.737-07:00Comments on Genealogy's Star: What is and What is Not Private for GenealogistsJames Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02989059644120454647noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527613590529958801.post-65389239039063534222017-09-16T06:47:49.622-07:002017-09-16T06:47:49.622-07:00According to the National Genealogical Society Mem...According to the National Genealogical Society Membership Fact Sheet (https://www.ngsgenealogy.org/galleries/press/2017_Membership_Fact_Sheet_19_April.pdf) in February 2017, they had more than 9,600 members. I might point out that MyHeritage.com's most recent statements indicates that they have more than 85 million members. I am not sure I could give the recommended guidelines of the NGS much weight in the issue of privacy. I would also note the NGS Privacy Policy (https://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/privacy_policy) which indicates that the NGS automatically collects information about its website visitors and uses browser cookies. The Privacy Policy does not even discuss the guidelines. James Tannerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02989059644120454647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527613590529958801.post-34622690762261594312017-09-15T19:16:56.300-07:002017-09-15T19:16:56.300-07:00James, I might agree with you privately, but we ar...James, I might agree with you privately, but we are omitting some key points here: (1) the National Genealogical Society, in attempting to set ethical guidelines for the community is a bit different than the letter of the law. In the recommended guidelines, "require evidence of consent before assuming that living people are agreeable to further sharing or publication of information about themselves." This is only part of what is covered by the community guidelines: https://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/standards_for_sharing_information These guidelines are also observed by those who seek to become certified in that no information about living persons can be included in such a portfolio without written consent from the person. Finally, the Association of Professional Genealogists is a bit more vague, but also addresses treatment of living persons: "Treat information concerning living people with appropriate discretion." While the information may be publicly available about living persons, our community leadership has set a higher standard ethically to protect the profession and practice of genealogy that should not be overlooked, even by the novice. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06395033597325942507noreply@blogger.com