Guidelines - What You Can And Can't Do With Our USA People Search Website Data

People search websites are very popular, providing users with easy access to public records and personal information about individuals.

Whether you're trying to reconnect with an old friend or verify someone's background, people search websites can be incredibly helpful.

However, like all powerful tools, there are specific guidelines and legal boundaries about what you can and cannot do with the data you obtain.

What You Can Do with People Search Website Data

• Locate People

These websites and our USA people search website are used to help locate individuals. If you're trying to find someone's current address or a phone number in the United States, you may use the website to search for these details.

This is especially useful for reconnecting with old friends, family members, or colleagues.

• Verify Identity

You can verify a person's identity. You may want to confirm the details of someone's background, such as their full name, age, and possible addresses they've lived at in the past.

This can be especially useful for landlords, employers, or individuals considering entering into business deals.

• Conduct Background Checks

You can conduct background checks on people. You can gather information such as criminal history, civil records, education, and employment history.

This is a common for people who want insights into a person's past behaviors, and trustworthiness.

• Reconnect with Old Friends or Family

Many people use people search websites to track down old friends, family members, or former colleagues. It's particularly helpful when you don't have much contact information to go off of, and you're trying to re-establish communication.

• Verify Public Records

Some people use our USA people search data to verify or cross-check public records such as court documents, driving records, email addresses, asset records or other publicly accessible information.

We aggregate this data by using InfoTracer's databases, making it more accessible for those who need to verify details.

• Understand Someone's Professional Background

People search websites often include work history or professional affiliations. This can be useful if you want to assess someone's career trajectory or determine their credibility in a professional context.

What You Can't Do with People Search Website Data

• Stalk or Harass Individuals

One of the most significant ethical and legal issues with people search websites is the potential for misuse. Using someone's personal information to stalk, harass, or intimidate them is illegal and unethical.

This includes repeatedly contacting someone against their will or using their data to monitor their activities.

• Discriminate in Employment or Housing Decisions

It is illegal to use information from people search websites to make discriminatory decisions regarding hiring, housing, or lending.

For example, using personal information (such as race, age, or marital status) found on a people search website to make decisions about offering a job or renting a property is a violation of anti-discrimination laws.

• Impersonate Someone

Using data to impersonate someone else, whether for fraud or personal gain, is illegal. This includes creating fake profiles or forging documents using information obtained from a people search website.

Identity theft, fraud, and misrepresentation can lead to criminal charges and severe penalties.

• Access Private or Restricted Information

People search websites aggregate publicly available information, but they do not grant access to private or restricted data.

Trying to access non-public information, such as financial records or medical history, without permission is illegal. This kind of unauthorized access is a breach of privacy laws.

• Perform Illegal Surveillance or Tracking

Using available data to engage in illegal surveillance or unauthorized tracking of an individual's movements or online activities is a clear violation of privacy rights and could result in legal consequences.

This includes things like tracking someone's phone location, social media activity, or even surveillance of their online interactions.

• Spread False Information

Sharing or spreading inaccurate or misleading information found through people search websites can cause significant harm. Posting false details about someone online, for instance, can lead to defamation claims and legal consequences.

Always ensure the accuracy of any information you share, especially if it is personal in nature.

• Use for Illegal Purposes

Using available data to facilitate illegal activities - such as committing fraud, scams, or blackmail - is a serious crime. Even if the data is obtained legally, using it to enable illegal actions can still result in criminal charges.

Legal Considerations And Ethical Use

People search websites aggregate publicly available information, but this does not mean users are free to use the data for any purpose. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) regulates how personal information can be used, particularly when it comes to credit reports, background checks, and employment decisions.

Always check the terms of use for any people search website, as these often contain important guidelines and limitations on how the data can be legally used.

Additionally, even if something is legal, it may not always be ethical. Be mindful of the potential impact of using personal information, especially when it comes to respecting privacy and being considerate of how your actions might affect others.

Understanding Ethical And Legal Limitations

People search websites can be incredibly useful tools for locating people, verifying identities, and conducting background checks. However, they come with significant responsibility.

Understanding the ethical and legal limitations is crucial to using this data properly. Always ensure you're respecting privacy, complying with applicable laws, and using the data only for lawful and ethical purposes.