Are You A Verizon Wireless Customer?
If you happen to be a Verizon wireless customer, you may wish to know that Verizon will share your CPNI call data unless you speficially call them to opt out. The information being shared doesn’t individually identify customers by name or address, but since it does include call data and services used, it strikes me as inappropriate for them to take this liberty based on an opt-out model. Originally, telecommunication providors were only allowed to use this data if their customers had explicitly opted in. Recently, telecoms have begun to argue in court that their use of customer data is somehow protected as commercial free speech… as in free speech for the providor, not the speaker (!)
Verizon is increasingly annoying me with their policy changes. This is an example of a policy change that is being slipped under the radar of most customers and doesn’t seem to be getting noticed except by wary users and watchdog groups. Verizon may have the best network, but I’m beginning to consider whether I should renew my contract with them when it expires in a few months.