SecurityDude, CISSP-ISSAP is an information technology consultant and blogger at large with over 20 years IT experience.
It takes a lot to render me speechless, but an article I read in the Communications section of the 10/16/2007 DHS Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report (PDF) floored me.
Verizon Wireless is mailing a notice advising wireless subscribers that if they fail to Opt Out within 30 days, Verizon will begin SELLING their Customer Proprietary Network Information (CPNI) to “third parties and affiliates”. CPNI information includes all the calls you place or receive on your cell phone (along with date, time and call duration). Verizon intends to allow “targeted ads” created by their affiliates sent to your phone.
If you are like me, you probably shred anything in the Verizon billing envelope except the bill. You can read a copy of the notice courtesy of SkyDeck. It is scanned sideways, so you will need to tell Acrobat to ‘Rotate Counterclockwise’ to read it.
To save you some time, here is the Verizon Automated Attendant number to Opt Out: 1-800-333-9956
It is important to note that if you have a Family Plan, you need to opt out ALL of your telephone numbers. Fortunately, the attendant prompts you to enter additional numbers.
Federal law prohibits the sharing of your CPNI, but Verizon has devised this new scheme that skirts the privacy protections we should expect without technically violating the law. I urge you to take 5 minutes and email the FCC demanding they remove this loophole allowing telecommunication carriers to subvert the intent of the law. When my contract expires in November, I am shopping for a new carrier.
Chairman Kevin J. Martin: KJMWEB@fcc.gov
Commissioner Michael J. Copps: Michael.Copps@fcc.gov
Commissioner Jonathan S. Adelstein: Jonathan.Adelstein@fcc.gov
Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate: dtaylortateweb@fcc.gov
Commissioner Robert McDowell: Robert.McDowell@fcc.gov
For more information
New York Times – Verizon Letter on Privacy
CNNMone.com – Verizon Wireless Statement
October 24, 2007 at 8:54 am |
I demand you remove this loophole allowing telecommunication carriers to subvert the intent of the law. Please stop wasting my time and money.
October 24, 2007 at 11:24 am |
[...] post last week about Verizon Wireless’ impending disclosure of subscriber call information (CPNI) has struck [...]
October 24, 2007 at 3:01 pm |
[...] to Network Observations, Verizon Wireless is going to start targeting ads to its customers based upon the calls you place [...]
October 24, 2007 at 7:05 pm |
this is unethical – loopholes should not be permitted
October 24, 2007 at 8:43 pm |
[...] if this was posted here already. I searched and did not find anything. This really ticks me off. Outrage: Verizon Wireless to Sell Ads on Your Cell Phone « Network Observations [...]
October 25, 2007 at 6:07 am |
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October 25, 2007 at 8:12 am |
Denise & Suzanne,
Thank you for reading the posting and adding your voice to the discussion. I would appreciate your help in the fight to stop telecommunication carriers from sharing our call data. I have provided an email template that you can email to the FCC Commissioners to express your concern to the 5 men & women who are in a position to DO something about this. Their email addresses are included at the link below.
http://networkinstruments.wordpress.com/2007/10/24/outrage-an-open-letter-to-the-fcc
Regards,
SecurityDude
October 25, 2007 at 9:39 am |
[...] is in the midst of launching a new program that basically lets them illegally sell ads on your mobile phone. Yes, one more time, it’s [...]
October 25, 2007 at 10:16 am |
[...] Verizon Wireless began  sending a letter to subscribers offering them the option to opt-out of having their customer proprietary network information (CPNI) [...]
October 27, 2007 at 2:21 pm |
To whom it may concern at Verizon. If you share my number with anyone else I WILL not renew my or my Wifes contract at the end of next year. You can take that to the bank.
October 29, 2007 at 6:36 pm |
I demand you remove this loophole allowing telecommunication carriers to subvert the intent of the law. Please stop wasting my time and money.
October 29, 2007 at 6:37 pm |
I cannot believe that this would be allowable.
October 31, 2007 at 10:51 am |
[...] there’s the disturbing revelation we’ve chronicled here, whereby Verizon is hawking confidential user data to advertisers. Sure users can opt out, but [...]
October 31, 2007 at 8:38 pm |
It’s amazing that the promise of a little money will cause a company to totally disrespect and annoy their own paying customers.
November 4, 2007 at 4:42 pm |
I certainly do not wish to be paying for your advertisements. As far as I am concerned, I feel that already we are paying too much money including all the hidden taxes.
I am voting NO to this!!!
November 7, 2008 at 2:30 pm |
[...] Outrage: Verizon Wireless to Sell Ads on Your Cell Phone [...]