We gotta stop normalizing that. Why do you need my address to receive my money? My birth date?
Even in places with strong privacy regulations requiring businesses not to collect data they don’t need, businesses apparently get away with asking this.
Even in places with strong privacy regulations requiring businesses not to collect data they don’t need, businesses apparently get away with asking this.
Because of the volume of stolen credit card numbers. If you have the address, you are much less likely to be someone using stolen CCs. Seriously, most of the crooks are that lazy. So the real reason is the credit card processing companies.
Also, post 911, there is this thing called "know your customer". It was set up to fight money laundering and financing terrorists.
And as soon as you connect with telephony systems (e.g. VoIP numbers) or rent out servers, some countries' telecom KYC laws apply that also force MS to collect validated address data.
Because handling that PII is not only cheap, it’s profitable!