Disney CEO Iger throws hissy fit over Congressman’s theme park privacy concerns

Skift Take

Uncharacteristically un-Disney-like response from Iger on the privacy concerns, the Congressman's letter was reasonable and was only raising questions in a routine way as any concerned lawmaker should. Strange; It just makes you more suspicious.

-Rafat Ali

Disney sent a scathing letter to the Massachusetts lawmaker’s office Monday in response to privacy concerns he raised last week about a new technology being implemented at the company’s theme parks. The Senate hopeful was inquiring about Disney’s new MyMagic+ program that streamlines visitors’ interactions, allowing them to use a bracelet as a credit card, room key and parking ticket — but also allows Disney to track visitor movements, like what rides someone goes on.

CEO Bob Iger pushed back candidly against Markey’s implicit allegations, calling the letter “unfortunate and extremely disappointing.”

“We are offended by the ludicrous and utterly ill-informed assertion in your letter dated Jan. 24, 2013, that we would in any way haphazardly or recklessly introduce a program that manipulates children, or wantonly puts their safety at risk,” Iger writes in the letter dated Monday.

The full letter, embedded below (via ThemeParkInsider)

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  • http://post404.com/ Randall “texrat” Arnold

    What an ass.

  • Joe

    Funny how a Democratic Congresssman is concerned about privacy at Disney when Obamacare requires the establishment of a national electronic database that will hold and display everyone’s lifelong medical history and making it accessible to a number of strangers, including government employees and a variety of health-care personnel. http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/how_obamacare_destroys_your_privacy_zItwZSGoI661FeB1iC5POI

  • http://twitter.com/Ayers111 chunJames Ayers

    Disney will utilize all of the information gathering capabilities of the MagicBands to maximize the profit potential of the technology. The capability to track visitors ANYWHERE the Bands go, including outside the theme parks, and into off-site properties and, assuming they become Fashion items, will allow the capture of what stores and restaurants the wearer goes.
    The technology potential is amazing, and Mr. Iger is almost certainly well briefed on future plans for the technology. Image real-time deal offerings whenever a person is near any restaurant, and knowing what they ate for their last meal and when…Also, when they went back to the hotel, and sending a few FastPasses for the theme parks for an hour from now to get them back to the Park

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