‘Target’ who has been bankrolling anti-GMO Food Labeling Efforts by paying members of the Grocery Manufacturers Association is now sued after hackers stole more than 110 million accounts in Target database
I no longer shop at Target, but a few years ago when I went to Target to return an item, I noticed that they store the CVV2 values (the security code at the back of your credit card) of their customer’s credit card number. I remember how I argued with one of the managers at Target for almost an hour on why what they were doing was wrong, immoral, unethical and even illegal. The manager at Target was indifferent to anything I had to say.
It is against the law for Merchants like Target to store CVV2 values (the last three digits) of their customer’s credit card number. I spent a good amount of time explaining to the manager why it is illegal to store CVV values and suggested that he should contact the VISA Association (the association of more than 2,500 banks that represent VISA) to confirm my claims. But he was simply not at all interested about the illegality of the storage of such sensitive information about customers' credit card, neighter was he interested that I claimed that what they were doing was just against the law. The manager at Target responded arrogantly that their expert attorneys have been looking into the whole thing and they have decided to store the CVV2 values.
Before I walked out of the store I said, "keeping my credit card information in your computer is a breach of privacy rights and you did not ask me to store my credit card information and since you show no respect for my wishes, I hope your company pays for it dearly through a lawsuit". After that conversation I never shopped at Target, but I can’t believe that what I predicted few years ago has just come true.
About 2 years has passed but injustice could not prevail forever. Target just confirmed that more than 110 million accounts were comprised after hackers broken into their database. More disturbingly, the stolen information and hacked credit card numbers are now available on black the market, according to nydailynews. Lawsuits will follow and the federal government as well as the Attorney General of 4 states (for the time being) are looking at Target and its illegal practices regarding the storage of credit card information without explicitly asking their consumers. Well, this couldn't happen to a nicer guy. Target treated me and my information with disrespect. I hope they pay for it dearly.
This could have not happened to a nicer company right before Christmas:
The nightmares of Target have just begun, since 5 major states in US are going to sue Target in a class action lawsuit. The immoral and illegal practices of Target to store their consumers’ CVV values has made Target a target to hackers and more 110 million stolen credit cards are now available in the black market online. Target has also announced that hackers could get a hold of more sensitive information like your name, address and phone number.
I hope those 110 million customers whose credit card was stored without their explicit permission, all sue this immoral and disrespectful - and bullying - company. Just because you are a large corporation and have lots of money and attorneys - it gives you no right to bully people and keep their personal credit card information without their explicit information. Down to Target and let's hope their CEO and Board of Directors are prosecuted for illegal storage of their consumers credit card information.
Food poisoning. Monsanto-style: GMA, Safeway, Starbucks and Target have been playing a main role in defeating GMO labeling movement:
Safeway, Starbucks and Target have been bankrolling anti-GMO Food Labeling Efforts by paying members of the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA). In fact, Safeway, Starbucks and Target all have something in common. They have been paying Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) who donated millions of dollars to defeat Yeson522 in Washington and Yeson37 in California.
These corporations do not really believe that their custumers have a right. They believe that you have no right to privacy (e.g. Target has been storing the CVV values of your credit card), nor do they believe that you have the right to know what you are eating. Bottom line is that corporations like Target could not care less about the rights of their customers. In fact, many foods and products sold in Safeway, Starbucks and Target contain genetically modified ingredients that are not properly labeled.
How can any company, especially one with a conscience no less, knowingly manufacture a product that poisons its consumers or illegally store information that could hurt millions of people who trusted them with such information at the first place?
Despite all the findings and studies of independent scientific community members on how GMOs can harm your health, Monsanto, PepsiCo, Nestle, Coca Cola and DuPont’s corporate PR lavishly spent millions of dollars on TV ads to convince an average consumer that GMOs are perfectly safe and their toxic poisons do not cause cancer. In fact, they falsely have convinced consumers that adding a label will increase food prices. Find out how cockroaches will always find a way: http://www.seattleorganicrestaurants.com/vegan-whole-food/biotech-chemical-corporations-spent-millions-to-defeat-Washington-GMO-labeling-initiative.php
Recently, a study came out that cancer is now number one reason behind childhood death. The reason that your kids don’t care much about organic fruits and vegetables is because junk food corporations are allowed to brainwash your kids by promoting junk foods that have little or no nutritional values. These companies are all benefiting from products that cause a wide range of diseases including cancer and diabetes. These toxic chemicals and foods are deadly carcinogens that damage every single organ in the body. Forget about labeling, why DON’T WE SIMPLY BAN GMOs since 30 other countries have?
Resources:
http://www.zdnet.com/target-confirms-breach-40-million-accounts-affected-7000024499/
http://www.organicconsumers.org/safeway-target-starbucks-petition.htm
http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/safeway-starbucks-and
