Public reaction escalates following the recognition of the backpack in a video involving UnitedHealthcare CEO's shooting, which was produced by its manufacturer.
Public reaction escalates following the recognition of the backpack in a video involving UnitedHealthcare CEO's shooting, which was produced by its manufacturer.
Peter Dering, the head honcho at San Francisco's Peak Design, spilled the beans to the New York Times on December 5, claiming he contacted the cops after spotting photos of the bag in question. If the cops were to kick down his door and ask for assistance, Dering would consult his legal eagle first to ensure he wasn't violating Peak Design's privacy protocols.
"We value our customers' privacy. A load of misinformation floating around on social media has stirred up some serious security threats, not just for me, but for our team as well," Dering spoke up in his statement. "I kindly ask you to weigh the facts and keep faith in Peak Design."
Dering also dished to the Times that the mystery tipster on the other end of his call confirmed receiving "hundreds" of calls pointing out the gray bag worn by the gunman Luigi Mangione as a Peak Design goodie.
The naysayers on social media have since crowned Dering the 'snitch king,' with one TikTok user proposing Peak Design bag owners cloak their serial tags to cover their tracks. Others have suggested just ditching the bags altogether.
Going by the book, companies are more than willing to share customer data following a court order or subpoena, claimed Greg Ewing, a data privacy attorney based in Washington D.C. "That's the standard operating procedure in situations like these," Ewing declared.
But just how ethical is this tracking of serial numbers for re-sellers and secondhand buyers? One TikTok user raised the concern, "What if I got this bag as a present, and now I'm the one hauling the baggage because Peak Design decided to rat out this person? That's a real headscratcher."
According to Ewing, it's a real possibility. Companies have limited data at their disposal and, in Peak Design's case, data registration is entirely voluntary. If a product changes hands without being re-registered, the trail of information could lead back to the original buyer.
Another TikTok user questioned the company's need to be the hero, "You didn't have to involve yourself in this mess."
As expected, companies collect customer data for marketing purposes, explained Ewing. In Peak Design's case, warranties required customers to register their products, and the company's "serializing" of units allows them to keep tabs on product issues and defects.
Interestingly enough, police have used tracing purchases as a law enforcement tactic for ages, Ewing suggested. If a company stubbornly refuses to cooperate, law enforcement can seek a warrant to access the data.
To a TikTok user, this situation was akin to police tracking down a car that rolled through a crime scene. Cars get registered by the state, making them easily traceable to their owners, similar to how consumer products like Peak Design bags are optionally registered.
Ewing, in his defense, praised Dering's law-abiding approach and urged privacy-conscious consumers to bear the responsibility for protecting their own data by refraining from sharing personal information.
"In light of the situation, Peak Design might need to reconsider its data collection practices to avoid potentially involving its customers in such situations," suggested another concerned TikTok user.
"Despite the controversy, businesses like Peak Design have a responsibility to protect their intellectual property, and in some cases, this may mean sharing customer data with law enforcement," Greg Ewing, the data privacy attorney, pointed out.