I think I've posted here about Ebay and privacy before, but here's some more: an article from The Nation, and a Slashdot thread discussing said article.

Vaguely related, here's an article from the Detroit Free Press (word to my former coworker Terry Shropshire, though he's in Atlanta now) about police abusing their confidential-database privileges. And, perhaps more closely-related, an MSNBC article about Ebay plasma tv scams. A quote from a Slashdot post I'm especially fond of:

"If you want payment protection, use some kind of service that offers it! Like... I dunno... credit cards. I don't mean credit cards through a third service, like Western Union or someone. I mean... buy from companies that accept VISA. Oh, it's more expensive? Guess why."

In an example of much-vaunted 'synergy,' here's a Washington Post article about 'web firms choosing profit over privacy,' and the requisite /. thread. Great closing quote in the Post article:

"Some companies, like psycho ex-boyfriends, tend to see relationships where they don't exist,"--Chris Murray, legislative counsel, Consumers Union.