How much personal data would you give up for a cookie?

In a recent unscientific experiment in Brooklyn, New York, 380 people gave up personal information -- from names and addresses, to their mother's maiden name and fingerprints -- in exchange for baked treats.

From ProPublica:

"It is crazy what people were willing to give me," said artist Risa Puno, who conducted the experiment, which she called "Please Enable Cookies," at a Brooklyn arts festival. The cookies -- actual cookies -- came in flavors such as "Chocolate Chili Fleur de Sel" and "Pink Pistachio Peppercorn..."

More than half of the people allowed Puno to take their photographs. Just under half -- or 162 people -- gave what they said were the last four digits of their Social Security numbers. And about one-third -- 117 people -- allowed her to take their fingerprints. She examined people's driver's licenses to verify some of the information they provided.

ProPublica Reporter Lois Beckett joins The Daily Circuit to discuss how much data a cookie can be traded for.

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.