Personal Information in Many Hands

Re: “Outsiders Have Inside Track Handling Data,” James Flanigan, Dec. 1.

Here is another bit of comforting news: American Express has signed with IBM to process its credit card and banking transactions and be “responsible for adjusting its information needs to changing competitive conditions” (Read: confidential information sharing/selling).

Mr. Flanigan reports that IBM also is wooing a similar contract with J.P. Morgan Chase.

With IBM already under a government contract , U.S. Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft has easy access to personal information on millions of Americans.

What a frightening web has been woven by this reemergence of IBM -- all since 9/11.

Stephany Yablow

Sherman Oaks