Reply #44: "....and I want to know what facts take you to that conclusion."

[Ghost in the Machine]

"Washington also wanted credit card numbers, email addresses, phone, fax and pager numbers and even frequent-flyer account numbers for UN figures and "biographic and biometric information on UN Security Council permanent representatives".

Just from this, I could come away thinking that they were looking to see if someone had a gambling problem/lots of debt, was using escort services, etc. so they could either be bought off or blackmailed. Other than that, it's just a total invasion of privacy and a de facto investigation of someone who hasn't even been accused of a crime. If they had something on a certain person, they could obtain a warrant if their evidence was credible.

I don't know about you, but I don't like the idea of someone running any kind of background check on me without my knowledge or permission, and this goes a lot deeper than a background check, don't you think?