no privacy at my bank

Greetings, I recieved a letter in the mail from my bank today that irritated and basically frightened me. it is "important privacy choices for consumers" it lists my rights: "you have the following rights to restrict the sharing of personal and financial information with our affiliates (companies we own or control) and outside companies that we do business with. Nothing in this form prohibits the sharing of information necessary for us to follow the law, as permitted by law, or give you the best service on your accounts with us. This includes sending you information about some other products or services." now, it gives me an option to choose no, but it also says that until they receive the no, they may share personal and financial information with outside companies. I've had this account for about 9 years and I'm wondering why all of a sudden they want to give me the apparent option to make them stop sharing my information. I say apparent option because the first paragraph states that they will only give information permitted by law, OR TO GIVE YOU THE BEST SERVICE ON YOUR ACCOUNTS in other words, we will do as we see fit regardless of your wishes and the law. thats the way i took it anyway. i always thought that banks were not allowed to share personal and financial information to begin with. anyone else ever heard of this? oh, by the way, i have checking, savings, and accounts for my kids, (all of whom recieved the same letter) and no loans or anything. just made me wonder who they are sharing with and exactly what they are sharing and why...