The other side of ChoicePoint

A blog I hadn't seen before (but which I'll likely blogroll), the Open Society Paradox, considers the benefits or organizations like ChoicePoint:

The Open Society Paradox: The Stampede Continues:

• "Employment verification to help with child support collection. Their web site claims that they have helped agencies collect millions of dollars for children.
• Screening of vendors that companies may choose to conduct business with.
• Background screening for employers so that former criminals aren't hired into jobs where they might put people at risk.
• Identity verification to help with the issuing of driver's licenses, something that can help reduce identity theft.
• Information to help the government prevent fraud in publicly funded programs such as food stamps, welfare, taxation, low-income housing, government loans.
• Information to help the government determine eligibility levels for benefits.
• Information to help investigators locate potential criminal or terrorist suspects.
• I'd like to know the savings that accrue because of the availability of ChoicePoint's information and it's ability to reduce friction in various types of economic transactions. "