POZ, a magazine addressing issues of people living or dealing with HIV, allowed the Community Prescription Service (CPS) to send a mailing to its subscribers, including those who had requested their names not be used for such purposes. By way of apology, Sean Strub, an officer and shareholder in both POZ and CPS, contributed $1,000 to the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse in the “(anonymous) names of those persons whose wishes we, in error, did not honor,” according to a letter sent to POZ subscribers.
The letter from Strub stresses that subscribers have a right to opt-out of receiving any such mailings as well as emphasized both the right of people who are HIV+ to maintain their anominity. The letter further asserts that the close relationship between the two independent companies – the profits from CPS fund POZ – created a “terrible mistake that makes it appear that we do not respect readers’ privacy or the option we so clearly gave readers not to have their names exchanged.”
While claiming no knowledge of the decision to mail information about a new HIV treatment to all subscribers, Strub and fellow activist, officer and shareholder Stephen Gendin accepted responsibility for it. The letter explained the mailing “means we screwed up,” and described the experience as “honest (but dumb).”
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