WTF Stories of the Week

[SzczerbiakManiac]

It's long, but please read the full article over on cNet called Buy.com, Orbitz linked to controversial marketers.

Thousands of Web shoppers have complained that "mystery charges" are showing up on their credit card statements and have accused those who operate so-called Web loyalty programs of duping them into signing up."
<snip>
Apparently, many consumers are unaware that for years now, e-tailers such as Buy.com, Orbitz, Fandango, and hundreds of others have given Web loyalty programs, also known as post-transaction marketers, access to their customers' credit cards. Some online shoppers don't realize that when they enter their e-mail addresses into these ads, they are opting into the programs and authorizing the charges.

Who the fück interprets "We reserve the right to use or disclose your personally identifiable information for business reasons in whatever manner desired." as "We can give your credit card info to whomever we want."?