Verizon customers: VZ wants to sell your personal information

http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/verizon_customers_-_just_say_no.php<blockquote><a href="http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/people/dweinberger">David Weinberger</a>, co-author of <a href="http://www.cluetrain.com/book.html"><em>The Cluetrain Manifesto</em></a> and the more recent <a href="http://www.everythingismiscellaneous.com/"><em>Everything is Miscellaneous</em></a> received a letter today from Verizon.  A "legalistic pamphlet" that informed him he has 45 days to opt out of 'agreeing' to let Verizon share his personal information.

Weinberger, unlike the majority of us who rarely read the associated paraphernalia that arrives with bills and the like, noticed that Verizon's modus operandi was to share Customer Proprietary Network Information - the data created as a result of your relationship with <a href="http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/index.html">Verizon Wireless</a> - unless you ask them to stop.

This information includes "services purchased (including specific calls you make and receive), billing info, technical info and location info. They promise to only share this with 'affiliates, agents and parent companies.' It will definitely not be shared with 'unrelated third parties' ... unless, perhaps that third party pays Verizon to become an affiliate, whatever the heck 'affiliate' means," <a href="http://www.hyperorg.com/blogger/2009/03/07/tales-of-data-pirates-opting-out-of-verizons-open-ended-sharing/">Wienberger wrote</a>.</blockquote>In Wienberger's original post, he details how to opt out of Verizon's plan to sell off copies of your personal data — but I'm sure they'd only do that with your best interests at heart.

I'm feeling much better about my decision not to go with Verizon.

 

I don't even get paper statements. Wonder how they'd tell me.

Eh, I don't care who they share shit with. What difference does it make to me if people know about specific calls I make and receive?

 

What compensation do I get for allowing this?

 

For one thing, it leads to more telemarketing, junk mail and junk email.

 

Bingo.

Nada.

 

Well, IJAG, they'll finally be able to trace those numerous 3 a.m. calls to the Jacoby and Gyllenhaal residences, for one thing.

A first glance, I wouldn't have a problem with it, but then after reading all sorts of things about the amount of data mining that's going on and what's done with that information... hell no. It's an encroachment of privacy that can only grow. I'm tempted to say "nip it in the bud," but it's already far beyond the bud stage.

 

My home ringer stays off, I don't answer my cell if I don't know the number, I don't open my mail and I have a great junk mail folder on gmail.

What else?

 

Remember that next time a telemarketer tries your cell 10 times in a row.

But really, that is the first problem that comes to mind with this. It is companies that compile lists for telemarketing and junk mail that buy this kind of data. I see no reason to encourage it and the sneaky way Verizon is handling this ticks me off.

 

Why would I care? I keep it on vibrate. When it rings, I can hit "ignore" or "silent."

I do it all the time.


Look, I get why others would care. I know that not everyone handles shit like I do. But none of these ideas bother me at all.

 

I just don't get why anybody would say yes when you get absolutely nothing in return.

 

Great. Just what I need; more junk mail and spam. I already get these VZW Exclusive texts for offers I can purchase through my phone. That in itself is annoying.

 

By the way, 2mcm, thanks for the warning. Hopefully, we didn't already miss the chance to say no.