I'm assuming you mean given name - why would this be included in the data set in the first place? Is there some significant correlation between names and movie preferences?
This post, which is linked from the ARS article states a given birthdate, gender, and zip code can uniquely identify most Americans. So, while the parent should probably specify birthdate instead of age, a name is definitely not needed.
Ah, birthdate makes much more sense. My confusion stemmed from misreading the comment as "using these properties: [given age](?), [gender], [zip code]" instead of "given these properties: [age], [gender], [zip code]".
Yes the issue is Netflix's liability. The reason it can be de-anomized is because people reveal more info in some other database (for example idbm) - if people willingly reveal more info in some other db, is that netflix's fault?
Yes, it's netflix's fault unless they clearly obtain permission from people to share information that their customers could naturally assume was private.
As stated elsewhere Netflix should just have a clear opt-in for sharing the data and we can continue on.
Maybe its somewhere in Netflix's terms of service that data on users movie preferences will be collected, however this information will be kept anonymous (as best as can be done by netflix).
It is. They mention in their privacy policy that they may disclose anonymized histories, so they might have a decent legal leg to stand on.
I don't think this helps them much in court of public opinion, and it helps even less in not pissing off a segment of their customers. Making it opt-in seems like an easy compromise. The only downside I see is if they get a really low response rate.
See http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/09/netflix-priz... and its links.