How I obtained my personal files from Bethel

It has taken me a long time, but I have finally put together an article outlining how I used the law to force Bethel to send me my personal files. It is a very long article full of scans, so I have linked to it at http://jwfacts.com/watchtower/experiences/personal-files-privacy-act-1988.php

In brief, in 2006 I requested that Bethel send me my files on the basis that the Australian Privacy Act 1988 entitles people to receive a copy of any information a corporation holds about them. Bethel refused, so I referred it to the Privacy Commissioner. It took 3 years for the matter to be settled and in 2009 I finally received my documents.

I found it very hard writing this document and put it off for over a year. It has been an emotional experience as I have basically just relived my entire life as a Witness - the "privileges" such as becoming a pioneer, MS and going to Bethel, along with the constant discipline that I received.

I think many of you will be surprised to see the type of information Bethel is still holding about you.

If you notice any errors or find the information hard to understand, let me know and I will try to fix it.

AWESOME POST!!! I was at HEADQUARTERS ... WORKED IN THE IT DEPARTMENT ... HAD ACCESS TO SERVERS AND SUCH .... ANYONE WANT THIER FILES DELETED????

 ACTUAL PICTURE OF COMPUTER SERVERS IN THE 25 COLUMBIA HEIGHTS BUILDING ... LOCATED IN THE BASEMENT.

what a trip!

 Aside from the obvious desire to get you for something, what stood out to me was the bald faced lies about the financial turnover.

I hope your life has settled back to some serenity!

ps... you have a pm

oz

Well done, but what a painful fight to get what is rightfully yours.

I had a similar fight with the UK branch office and a congregation.

The Australian Privacy Act 1988 and the UK Data Protection Act 1998 are the WTBTS's worst enemy.

A great pity the US doesn't seem to have similar laws.

Thanks, that gave me an idea to do the same. I consulted online the relevant laws in my country and it seems it's even easier here, the law is simple: if you have data on someone, you are bound by law to share them at most once a year per request with the subject of the data. There are a few exceptions, but the WTS doesn't fall in that category, financial turnover is not a criteria (who made that law about financial turnover anyway? what does that have to do with them storing info on me?)

What bothers me though is that I found an online registry of the entities operating with personal data, but I haven't found the WTS in it. It may be that they simply lied their way out of this, denying any sort of data gathering.

WOW!  What a journey.

Your persistance paid off. A lesser man would have given up.

I'll bet the branch co-ordainator had great trouble signing that letter.

Thanks for making all that info available.  

While I was there I had another look around your brilliant site.

I just have to copy this great quote I'd not noticed before:

"The point is that Christians have implicit trust in their heavenly Father; they do not question what he tells them through his written Word and organization." Watchtower 1974 July 15 p.441 

Keep up the good work.

yesidid 

Hi Paul,

I have just finished reading that page and all the associated documentation – WOW!!

You have a PM.

Well done!

No I don't want my files deleted but if you could please burn the place down next time you get a chance? 

THanks in advance

Wow....Amazing as usual, Paul!

it is simply a legal, worldly corporation run by men.

Your final sentence on that page of your site says it all. You are just a file in a cabinet in "The Truth".....

 HAD ACCESS TO SERVERS AND SUCH .... ANYONE WANT THIER FILES DELETED????

How would you be able to delete files now?  If you can, just delete all of them, lol.

on the publishers card why is there is spot for anointed or other sheep? what is that?

Thank you for doing this.  ALL of it.  The leaving the borg, the gathering information, forcing the borg to give you your files, and the documenting it on your website.  You're an inspiration to all of us.

If anyone discovers any way for Dubs in countries other than Oz and UK to get this stuff, be sure to post it please.  Does the borg keep anything relating to our blood documents?  Maybe we could get HIPAA law to somehow come into play in the USA.

I read your journey.  Thanks for posting.  Strength to you.  If it helps, your website has been extremely valuable to my exit. 

Thanks for all the comments. 

WAC, I thought you are a great looking guy until I realised that is Matthew Broderick.

FOYKC, thanks for including the UK law. I will add that to the article and any similar laws from other countries that members may be aware of.

Dude we have similar history...I was disfellowshiped exactly one year after from you...

WT is like FBI they have tones of files of your life

carla, if a person eats the bread and drinks the wine at the memorial (and is a baptized jw) they are considered "anointed" and it will be marked so.  Those who don't partake are marked "other sheep" O/S.

Shortly thereafter, I received a covering letter and corresponding documents from Bethel. The documents are somewhat incomplete, missing my extensive Bethel application and Vow of Poverty.

Their refusal to fully meet their legal obligations reminds me of Luke 16:10:

"He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much."