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

Posted by michael on from the make-a-buck-or-two-off-you dept.

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.

4 of 492 comments (clear)

  1. Speaking of (not so) private data by ekrout · · Score: 1, Troll

    I hate Klerck, aka Kevin Ealy who resides at 14 Stanhope Road in Goose Creek, SC.

    --

    If you celebrate Xmas, befriend me (538
  2. Re:Rights? What about.... by redfiche · · Score: 1, Troll
    See, just what I meant.

    BTW I agree with everything you say, the system sucks, but you are not without choices.

    --

    Brevity is the soul of wit

    -- Polonius

  3. Businesses *should* have the right. by bmetzler · · Score: 0, Troll
    It's their information to use to server *you* better. It belongs to them because you are their customer, and it is irresponsible for then to not use it in order to serve you better.

    It's like when I go out to a resteraunt and order an entree. The waitress should offer a suggestion as to which wine and dessert goes best with my meal. I sure have no clue as to which culinary delights work best together.

    In the same way Verizon should be able to use sales records, and other data to create new services and products and offer them to me. Perhaps I make a lot of long distance calls, but only in the evening after 9pm. Then they should call up and offer me a plan that takes advantage of that. Or maybe I make a lot of long distance calls during the day, and they have a flat-rate plan that gives me 500 minutes of long distance a month. They should call and offer me that.

    I don't have the time to check out every possible scenerio available with every company out there. It's their job to take the data they have and then present me with their best offers.

    Maybe I'll say no. In fact, I usually do say no. But at least I know that it is available. It isn't just phone companies either. Basically every company that does business should feel obligated to collect the information available to them and use it to serve the customer better.

    -Brent
  4. Re:It's garbage like this... by BurntHombre · · Score: 1, Troll
    ... that makes me stay in my apartment and read. You can't go anywhere, buy anything, talk to anyone, read anything (oh crap, nevermind), or watch anything without someone using it to fuel marketing.

    Welcome to the information age. The question is no longer whether you are being served, but to whom.

    Actually, I'd say that's more of a sign that you need to unplug the computer and take a step outside. Go take a walk in the park. Too much fear and paranoia from /. will give you a skewed perspective.