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Verizon is Selling Your Personal Data

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Re: Verizon is Selling Your Personal Data

#121

Post by nicholassmith »

JeremyBanks wrote: post #96
Evbn wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why? Just to be like twitter, but different, with no comprehension of why the Twitter limit exists?

Comprehending why the Twitter limit exists should let you comprehend why there's no point for App.net to follow it. The service won't actually be used for "micro-blogging" unless users are constrained by some limit, but 144 is too damn small. Nobody would ever have picked it if they weren't forced to, and these days they aren't. What infinitesimal fraction of modern Twitter users in App.net's target market do you ima…

For how I use Twitter 144 characters is perfect, it forces a nice level of brevity.

Re: Verizon is Selling Your Personal Data

#122

Post by nobody_nowhere »

nikcub wrote: post #104
dude_abides wrote: post #3

Thanks for the PSA. While I understand why these things tend to be opt-out by default, I'm surprised there was no email from Verizon updating users about these new settings with a link to opt-out if they wanted to. I used to think that the telecom industry is a lot more regulated than social network companies like Facebook, but I guess that's not really true!

This is a big deal. The FTC will almost certainly investigate it and if it turns out to be as bad as described, will likely take action. The process might take a while, but they eventually get results. They rely on the public to report incidents: http://www.ftc.gov/multimedia/video/scam-watch/file-a-compla... Having multiple people report a claim is good. Also, capturing screenshots etc. of everything you find,since…

Unlikely. They know all about this already. I'd recommend contacting your member of congress. Also, it's the FCC, not the FTC, who regulates phone companies.

I'm familiar with the targeting technology that's being rolled out and the people/companies involved with the project. They've extensively briefed both FCC and FTC plus key members of congress, and have received a tacit blessing to proceed because of a double-blind hardware technology involved to limit the identification of individuals, and the measures taken so far to alert consumers.

Not to say that it's good or bad to do this. But a company like verizon isn't going to proceed without covering their ass from a regulatory perspective.

Re: Verizon is Selling Your Personal Data

#123

Post by tomrod »

nitrogen wrote: post #105
tomrod wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unfortunately, many of us don't have downvote rights yet. If this were the case, I definitely wouldn't flag unless community standards were flagrantly violated!

Don't worry; if you wanted to vote a post down, there's probably someone with high enough karma who also wants to downvote the same post.

Strangely enough, that's comforting!

Re: Verizon is Selling Your Personal Data

#124

Post by Bill_Dimm »

dkarl wrote: post #65
rkudeshi wrote: post #22

A related story: I was recently shopping around for a new ISP. One I considered was Verizon FiOS. In order to see the prices in my area, I had to enter my address. Two weeks later, I got a letter in the mail. Written outside on the envelope was something like: "We noticed you were checking out our website! Here's a special offer just for you..." It's not the same as what OP posted, but it certainly left me creeped ou…

I get pounds of mail every year advertising U-Verse when AT&T doesn't offer U-Verse at my address. The mail has been coming for years now. Big thick envelopes full of brochures, little letter-sized envelopes, oversized postcards. At least Verizon is advertising a service you can actually buy.

At least Verizon is advertising a service you can actually buy.

Don't count on it. I'm constantly pestered by Verizon to buy their FiOS service, and FiOS isn't available in my apartment complex.

Re: Verizon is Selling Your Personal Data

#125

Post by AUmrysh »

tomrod wrote: post #67
MichaelApproved wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's exactly what the down-vote is meant for. If you think a comment is off-topic, down vote the post and perhaps add a comment as to why you think it deserves to be down-voted. Flagging is expensive, in that it requires mod (human) attention. It should be reserved for spam and other egregious posts. Let the mods spend their valuable time on more important tasks.

Unfortunately, many of us don't have downvote rights yet. If this were the case, I definitely wouldn't flag unless community standards were flagrantly violated!

How do you get downvote abilities? I had them on my old inactive account from a few years ago but not this one. Is there a karma quota or something?

Re: Verizon is Selling Your Personal Data

#127

Post by JadeNB »

joelackner wrote: post #60
jrockway wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Heh, that's why I always fake address details when I'm checking out cable or DSL options. Of course they're going to use the personal information you enter for marketing purposes, that's why they ask for specifics like apartment number and your mobile number that they don't need to determine service availability.

that's a clever way of sticking it to them, jrock. i feel sorry for my neighbors already.

It is possible to enter completely fake information, rather than someone else's address. (For example, aside from the burden on the post office, I think entering a street address for an apartment complex without an apartment number harms no one.)

Re: Verizon is Selling Your Personal Data

#128

Post by jrockway »

JadeNB wrote: post #127
joelackner wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

that's a clever way of sticking it to them, jrock. i feel sorry for my neighbors already.

It is possible to enter completely fake information, rather than someone else's address. (For example, aside from the burden on the post office, I think entering a street address for an apartment complex without an apartment number harms no one.)

Though unfortunately the mailman is usually smart enough to route that kind of mail if the name on it is correct.

Actually, it's quite difficult to fail to send someone a letter. The post office does try pretty hard to deliver mail.

Re: Verizon is Selling Your Personal Data

#129

Post by jrockway »

fleitz wrote: post #102
Evbn wrote: post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The telcos weren't wiretapping for profit, but as an agent of the government. You got the direction of power backwards.

I don't think you've seen a wiretapping bill... http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygreenberg/2012/04/03/these-a... "Wiretaps cost hundreds of dollars per target every month, generally paid at daily or monthly rates. To wiretap a customer’s phone, T-Mobile charges law enforcement a flat fee of $500 per target"

Still cheaper than texting!

Re: Verizon is Selling Your Personal Data

#130

Post by morganm »

unfletch wrote: post #62

Does anyone know if this applies to iPad-only customers? That's my only Verizon account, but the opt-out link requires a phone number to log in. (Ditto for the "forgot user id" form.)

I retrieved my iPad phone number as per the other comment and logged into the website. Their site says my info is being shared and when I try to switch this it says the settings can not be saved. Calling the 800 number says I am already opted out.

I tried speaking with a CS agent who had no idea what privacy settings I was talking about and then said it does not apply to pre-pay customers. I think she was just trying to get me off the line.

So I'm not sure if this applies to iPad customers or if it is possible to opt out.

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