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AT&T, Verizon To Require Opt-In For User Tracking

Posted by kdawson on from the about-thirteen-years-late dept.

ehaggis writes "The Washington Post reports that AT&T and Verizon have pledged not to track customers' internet behavior unless given explicit, opt-in permission. The two companies made this commitment in a Congressional hearing. A Verizon vice president is quoted: 'Verizon believes that before a company captures certain Internet-usage data... it should obtain meaningful, affirmative consent from consumers.' The article also mentions a survey quoted by a congressman indicating that '72 percent of Americans worry their online activities are being tracked by companies.'"

16 of 59 comments (clear)

  1. Why? by thatskinnyguy · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Maybe I'm paranoid, but how can user tracking ever be a good thing?

    --
    The game.
    1. Re:Why? by MasterOfMagic · · Score: 2, Insightful

      First, I don't have any children. Second, trust but verify. Children make mistakes - that's how they learn. As their parent and legal guardian, it's my job to minimize the impact of those mistakes and hopefully help them learn. Third, when my children start paying for the Internet connection which, by the way, is not a necessity, then they'll have the right to decide how they're going to use it. I pay for it, so I get to set and enforce the ground rules.

      I'm not saying spy on their every move, but if I see little Johnny running off to the hate speech sites or little Jenny running off to findasugardaddy.com, I have a vested interest in what is going on. It would be bad parenting of me not to find out.

  2. Buried in page 15 of the EULA? by Moraelin · · Score: 4, Insightful

    If I'm to go by what other companies think it's a clearly affirmative accepting a contract, it'll probably go like this: somewhere in the fine print of their contract, or maybe in an EULA on their router/modem config page, will be something like "I agree to be tracked, and the company can do whatever it wishes with my data." And if you don't agree, then you can't use their service. Bonus points if:

    A) you only find that out after you bougt the service and,

    B) they're the only choice you have.

    Hey, it worked for software EULAs, didn't it?

    --
    A polar bear is a cartesian bear after a coordinate transform.
    1. Re:Buried in page 15 of the EULA? by pha7boy · · Score: 3, Insightful

      that would not really be "opt in" it would be more like "force in" - I assume it will be one of those mildly worded pop-ups that most people will hit yes/no on without actually reading it. Those paying attention will be able to keep themselves out of it, but then again, it's not the "geek" the marketers are after - it's the housewife/grandma/teen that is the big prize.

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      -- All this knowledge is giving me a raging brainer.
  3. Let me guess... by Shajenko42 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The "opt-in" will be part of the agreement to get service in the first place, thereby adhering to the letter of this promise, but not the spirit.

    1. Re:Let me guess... by gstoddart · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The "opt-in" will be part of the agreement to get service in the first place, thereby adhering to the letter of this promise, but not the spirit.

      Or, the ever popular "by continuing to use this service you agree to all terms and conditions" when they change their TOS to existing customers.

      I simply have a hard time that these companies will keep this one little line item separate, and make sure that when you click on it you are only clicking on it.

      The propensity to bundle all of the things into one big uber license it just too common, and companies retroactively changing TOS is hardly new.

      Cheers

      --
      Lost at C:>. Found at C.
  4. Define "meaningful" opt-in by Lord+Byron+II · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Will they really lay it all out for the customer: "We want to spy on you. Is that cool?" Or will they try and hide it in section 10.123.31 of the TOS: "By breathing, you hereby give ATT perpetual, non-revocable permission to spy on you."

  5. BS by DragonTHC · · Score: 2, Insightful

    AT&T cannot ever be trusted.

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    They're using their grammar skills there.
  6. Nobody said it will be good for YOU by Moraelin · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Well, nobody said it will be good for _you_. You're just supposed to believe that it'll be good for the economy -- in the same way, say, telemarketing calls or companies selling your private data are -- and saves the company some money, and _of_ _course_ they'll pass the savings on to you, the consumer.

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    A polar bear is a cartesian bear after a coordinate transform.
    1. Re:Nobody said it will be good for YOU by morgan_greywolf · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Well, nobody said it will be good for _you_. You're just supposed to believe that it'll be good for the economy -- in the same way, say, telemarketing calls or companies selling your private data are -- and saves the company some money, and _of_ _course_ they'll pass the savings on to you, the consumer.

      Psssst. Hey, buddy. I've got 10 copies of Duke Nuke 'Em Forever. Wanna buy any?

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      My blog
    2. Re:Nobody said it will be good for YOU by davester666 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      It will be good for the economy. In particular, the 'economy' of the ISPs. You either opt-in, so the ISP makes money showing you targeted ads, or you don't, and will need to pay the ISP an extra $5/month.

      Sure, it's not like this now, but it will eventually be like this (similar to having to pay a fee to the manufacturer to "remove" the crapware from your new computer)...

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      Sleep your way to a whiter smile...date a dentist!
  7. The only reason they decided this..... by bleh-of-the-huns · · Score: 3, Insightful

    voluntarily, is because they are trying to head off government regulation of private data.

    But people are right, it will probably be buried inside the TOS, which makes for an interesting dilemma, since requiring explicit permission to use the data would allow you to say yes or no without affecting your service, but if you say no to the TOS because the clause is in there, you can be denied service....

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    I came, I conquered, I coredumped
  8. How about a discount? by sBox · · Score: 2, Insightful

    If they offered a break on our monthly bills for anonymous usage statistics, I bet 72% of Americans would take it.

  9. Uh huhh, riiiight. by handmedowns · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Why is this even relevant since we already know they assisted with warrantless wiretapping? Are they trying to prove they have a conscience or prove that they've got ethics and respect our privacy so long as no one else asks them to violate it? What a joke. I will never support AT&T or Verizon in any way that I'll be aware of.

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    The road between democracy and tyranny is paved with secrecy in the name of security.
  10. Proper terminology by GameboyRMH · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I think it would be "trick-in."

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    "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
  11. Dear AT&T / Verizon Customer by Maxo-Texas · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Please accept this check for $8.99 as a show of gratitude for being a customer.

    Please note depositing the check indicates you want to enroll in our free customer satisfaction service. The CSS includes free online billing information and free online customer tracking services. You'll also be able to get offers for special discounts to concerts and shows!

    --
    She was like chocolate when she drank... semi-sweet at first and then increasingly bitter.