16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15 , wherein the consumer information requested comprises at least one of an address, a telephone number, and a social security number.
15. A computer-implemented method for exchanging consumer information, comprising the steps of: registering a plurality of data providers and a plurality of data buyers; building, by the computer, a searchable index for each of the data buyers based on at least one index of consumer information for sale provided from one or more of the data providers; for each searchable index of each of the data buyers, encrypting and decrypting the searchable index by a public key unique to a respective one of the data buyers, when building the searchable index; receiving a query and a legal representation from a data buyer of the plurality of data buyers, the query defining a purchase request for consumer information and the legal representation indicating that the data buyer will use the consumer information requested only in accordance with stated permissible uses; retrieving the searchable index associated with the data buyer; determining, by the computer, whether at least one of the data providers maintains the consumer information requested by the data buyer by comparing the purchase request to the searchable index associated with the data buyer; encrypting and decrypting the searchable index associated with the data buyer by a private key unique to the data buyer, when determining whether at least one of the data providers maintains the consumer information requested; in response to determining that at least one of the data providers maintains the consumer information requested, arranging for an exchange of the consumer information requested with the data buyer; and arranging, by the computer, for delivery of a payment from the data buyer.