Verizon Sues to Stop Privacy Rules; Wants to Sell Call Data

Jake writes "Verizon has asked a federal court to stop state regulators from enforcing new privacy rules that would prohibit telephone companies from using or sharing details about customers' calling habits without permission. Verizon, which serves nearly 1 million customers across Washington state, had plans to begin a data-sharing system that allowed the company and its affiliates to collect information on when, where and how often customers make telephone calls. It would use that data to sell new products and services to customers." "We believe we have certain rights as a corporation to use this information," Verizon's PR person says. Great.

Comments

Re:In other news...

[Real World Stuff]

Here 8=m===D Is my Private 8===m=D Phone Data 8=m===D Post! 8===m=D 8=m===D 8===m=D ~ ~ ~ ( o )( o )MOMMY ca nhear me now from her FAT Vagina! Brought to you by what I like to call the Friday Burn. Karma Means Nothing.

Ummm

[geek]

I dont know what country you live in, but here in America (you know, on planet Earth) you DO have a constitutional right to make money. Not only is it your right but it's expected for tax reasons.

Ever hear of the pursuit of happiness? Pretty hard to be happy living in a card board box with no hope of retirement or medical benefits.

If we didn't have a right to earn a living we would be soviet russia where the state provides it all.

Next time think about it

Re:Free Speech?

[Pig Hogger]

As a libertarian myself, I feel the need to forestall an argument that some of my fellow libertarians might make: that such laws cannot be justly applied to the telecommunications market; that they are an improper restraint on legitimate trade, or free speech; etc. The fact of the matter is that the telecoms system as we know it is a construct of government regulation. Its "privatized" structure is merely a corporatized extension of national governments, like the old colonial "Companies" (think "British East India Company", etc.) which enriches investors whilst furthering government policy.

Aw, godawfulshit, cut the crap, will ya?

You libertarian types are in reality crypto-anarchist who only yearn for the prehistoric times where who had the biggest stick had his way.

If Humanity has decided to regroup under sovereign states, it is because it gives a much better life than the dog-eat-dog jungle you're promoting.

Why don't you crawl back into that swamp you came from? At least, you won't be soiling our gene pool.

Re:Phone Taps

[Ethidium]

Actually, if you live in the US, which is where this is taking place, your right (and Verizon's right) to free speech is enshrined in the constitution (First amendment: "The congress shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom of speech or of the press, or of the people peacably to assemble . . ."

Your right to privacy on the other hand, is for the most part a common law right (there are some legislative and administrative laws that secure specific applications of the right to privacy, but none, as far as I know, that specifically guarantee the right to privacy in general.