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Verizon Wireless: If you don’t opt out, we get to share your CPNI call data

arstechnica.com — The company says that customers who do not want their CPNI data shared need to call 1-800-333-9956 to "opt-out." Failure to opt out will be interpreted by Verizon Wireless as "consent" for sharing your call records with certain other parties.

Who dugg this? Made popular Oct 15, 2007

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  • Frostman3D, on 10/16/2007, -3/+79I think I'll just "opt out" of verizon and choose another company. ***** that *****.
  • realwx, on 10/16/2007, -2/+76That has to be illegal.
  • imbetterthanu, on 10/16/2007, -1/+36If someone was waiting for a reason to leave Verizon Wireless, would this be grounds for getting them to drop the penalty for ending the contract early? They changed the TOS of the contract, not the user.
  • gaagaale, on 10/16/2007, -2/+36in America, corporates make their own laws as long no one notices.
  • Forklore, on 10/16/2007, -1/+27OK, but don't bitch when the calls start coming in and your minutes are used for you...
  • aspec, on 10/16/2007, -1/+24Congratulations. You get a medal. And they're still gonna share your data.
  • Shaman760, on 10/16/2007, -1/+23Thanks for that info. I am opting out as I type this.
    Now I'm opted out. :)
  • tensider, on 10/16/2007, -0/+19Are there any non-evil, decent cellphone service providers in the US? Seems like I have a choice between Evil Verizon, Evil AT&T, No Coverage In My Area T-mobile, or Going Out of Business Slowly With Bad Customer Service Sprint...
  • McHoffa, on 10/16/2007, -0/+14so i have to choose between spammers getting my call info on verizon, or switch to at&t and let the government have my call info?

    tough choice... which is worse?
  • xOrion73x, on 10/16/2007, -2/+14This is rather screwey... and another reason why I'm happy to not use Verizon anymore.

    Keeney- Does this mean that you are cool with making yourself an easier target for advertising spam? If someone pays for a service, they shouldnt have to supply the provider with marketing information for free, unknowingly or otherwise, if they don't want to.
    (I don't see anywhere that anonymously is indicated, but I could be wrong)
  • muncle, on 10/16/2007, -0/+11Yeah, I actually got the notice in the snail mail last week. It's legit.
  • chris4404, on 10/15/2007, -4/+14Luke use the Reply button, thats whats its there for.
  • djgeki, on 10/19/2007, -0/+10This is nuts. I'm on Verizon...nothing about this in a bill, no separate mailing, no information about it at all. "Letting them know about it quietly" my ass! They're not telling their customers ANYTHING! Now I hate Verizon even more than when they were just screwing me on my bill. Dugg for the sake of all cell phone customers who hate being pushed down a flight of stairs because you choose to pay for your service.

    Don't be afraid to tell these big corporations to back off!
  • arbulus, on 10/16/2007, -0/+10Are you one who also says that you don't care about the government spying on you without a warrant beacue you "have nothing to hide"?

    "Opt-out or you've given consent" practices are *****. Anythign that you sign up for or agree to should be "opt-in." You should HAVE to give a verbal or written consent to sign up for a service, not have it done automatically unless you say not to. Especially when it comes to sharing your call data. No, I have nothing to hide, but I don't want peoplle looking at my *****.
  • driftin079, on 10/16/2007, -3/+13We're very sorry, but as stated in Section C, paragraph 9, any person who uses the phrase "You go, girl" in any non-ironic context is subject to forfeiture of right to life. A representative from the rest of society will be along shortly to remove all essential organs through your nostrils.
    Have a nice day.
  • ncc74656m, on 10/15/2007, -1/+10VZW can burn in hell for all I care, what with their little games in dealing with the 700 Mhz spectrum and all.

    I hope these clowns read this crap. VZW and AT&T are horrible companies and I hope their execs are the first with their backs against the wall when the time comes.
  • N3M3515, on 10/16/2007, -0/+8How is this a conspiracy? Verizon is no doubt making money off of sharing this information, the information includes who you call, length of the call, etc... and they are making their customers opt out if they don't want their info shared. This is hardly a conspiracy, its just a play by Verizon to make more money, which just ridiculous. My employer uses Verizon for over 3000 (thats only counting data) and I have personally experienced the complete BS that Verizon tries to pull on my employer(extra fees, and charges, etc). I only use Verizon personally because I get a 25% discount on my bill but as soon as my contract is up I am finished with them, they have little integrity and seem to care little about their customers.
  • inactive, on 10/16/2007, -0/+8If you agree to their draconian terms of service, they can just defend themselves by saying that you were fine with it. But they're bastards nonetheless.
  • codehkr77, on 10/16/2007, -6/+14Can you share me now?
  • madcow53, on 10/15/2007, -0/+8Whatever happened to the customer comes first?
    To McHoffa, Verizon is also monitoring your phone calls for the government
    http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060515-6829 ...

    Soon enough, I won't be a Verizon Customer anymore
  • SocialPoison, on 10/15/2007, -0/+8This is quite possibly the best "protect yourself" message I've gotten from Digg. I just opted out... and forwarded this on to friends and family.
    So in short... thank you digg!
  • Grannit, on 11/04/2007, -3/+10Is there some verification from the Verizon Wireless site on this? So far we just have some blogger asking us to call a number and enter a whole bunch of personal information. In these days of identity theft I'm a bit cautious about this sort of thing.
  • nowherekido3, on 10/15/2007, -1/+7Look at it this way. Verizon is basically getting double payment for their service. We pay $50 dollars a month for subpar performance and then they get to sell our information and calling habits to an outside company for even more money. Theres just something about this that really pisses me off. I might be cooler with this if we were automatically opted out but lets say we decided to let them sell our information we would get a discount each month like $10 or something.
  • sonofalink, on 10/15/2007, -0/+62nd paragraph:
    "While CPNI data does not include explicit information identifying your name and address or your phone number..."
  • tubeblender, on 10/16/2007, -1/+7Seconded for bringmeupmusic because he couldn't find the reply button.
  • sarlok, on 10/16/2007, -0/+6Actually, under current FCC rules, this is legal. There are new FCC rules concerning the CPNI data that go into effect later this year, and under the new rules, an opt-in arrangement would be required rather than opt-out. Basically, Verizon is trying to sneak this past their existing customers before the rules change.

    See http://www.ipbusinessmag.com/departments.php?depar ... for some more details on the CPNI rules that are changing.
  • tankexmortis, on 10/16/2007, -0/+6Thanks for posting this. I've known for a while that Verizon is scummy as hell, but this is scary.
  • hesitaliandad, on 10/16/2007, -2/+7I immediately canceled my service when I got this letter. Big Red can sell someone else's info, not mine.
  • SPThom, on 10/15/2007, -0/+5The act of "opting out" referred to here is for opting out of the data sharing, NOT out of your contract.
  • MellerTime, on 10/17/2007, -0/+4Yeah, because Verizon is the only company doing this. AT&T has probably been doing it for decades without even telling anyone...

    And FWIW, my time with Verizon was the best cell service I've ever had... Damned iPhone!
  • cawpin, on 10/16/2007, -0/+4I have a question for any other Verizon customers who opt out. I just did so for my number AND the other number on my account. When I entered the second number it didn't ask for any other information, like billing zip code or last four of social, like it did for the first one. I am kind of wondering if this was a glitch of if it actually did compare them to the ones I entered for the first number. Can anyone tell me?
  • pooflinger1, on 10/16/2007, -1/+5OMFG... RTFA... This opt out is for Verizon to share the call information with ITS PARENT COMPANIES. NOT third party companies. They are allowing you to opt out of sharing your Verizon wireless information with Verizon (land line) and Vodaphone...


    Jeez people, do some research before sticking Ur heads up your asses and just saying I'm switching.

    Read THIS: http://www.ksdk.com/money/business_article.aspx?st ...

    They note about the website where this story was posted (Ars Technica) Posting wrong information.

    Dugg down for inaccurate.
  • Waterrat, on 10/15/2007, -0/+3 So true...If they had a micron of ethics,opting out would be the norm and you have to volunteer to opt in..
    Oh SURE,I want my info shared with certain others...Like telemarketers! Don't want to miss out on those callers at supper time trying to sell me aluminum siding!
  • arbulus, on 10/16/2007, -0/+31. If you don't, then you must be 15 years old.
    2. You should know it by heart. It's very ***** important.
  • PacketPaul, on 10/15/2007, -3/+6I opted out by simply canceling my service. By, by Verizon!
  • robisfunky, on 10/15/2007, -1/+4who did you switch to?
  • starbird, on 10/16/2007, -0/+3I had the same thing happen. I think because it asks you if you have any others, we should be set.
  • soomprimal, on 10/16/2007, -0/+3Verizon user here... I just got my letter today. So it's new to me as well.
  • wendelgee2, on 10/16/2007, -1/+4Dude, Verizon is cooperating with the nsa too, don't kid yourself.
  • Neomarxleninist, on 10/15/2007, -0/+3I have never had any real problems with verizon, although they can't set up a router to save their lives.
  • rq60, on 10/16/2007, -1/+3just opted out. although i'm probably still going to get screwed over somehow.
  • rdoger6424, on 10/16/2007, -1/+3no, no, no
    AT&T *admits* to being the NSA's sex slave
    If you don't think that all the telcos are giving info happily to various Three Letter Agencies, then you're wrong.
  • Sector7g, on 10/15/2007, -0/+2I hate you Verizon! But i do love me some FIOS!
  • hexydes, on 10/15/2007, -0/+2This is the real answer. I know that none of the cell phone companies are much better (either too small with crappy coverage, or still basically evil), but Verizon seems to be the most anti-consumer of all. I use AT&T, and while they are still awful, their system is much easier to manipulate (better phones, rollover, GSM for bringing whatever phone I want, etc).
  • Tarran, on 10/15/2007, -0/+2Just an FYI for anyone on a family share plan with VZ. I just got off the phone with VZ "Customer service" and if anyone is on a family share plan only the primary phone line has to do the opt out and that will cover all of the other lines on the same contract.
  • hokie47, on 10/17/2007, -0/+2This is the kind of stuff I want our government to fix. But they are either getting paid by these companies or just don't care. There is no money in just passing a law outlawing these kind opt-out scams so they don't do anything. Instead they rather waste our hard earned money on wasteful wars and other worthless projects.
  • PopcornDave, on 10/16/2007, -0/+2Odd, I just did it for my two Verizon phones and it prompted me for the zip code and ssn both times.
  • soomprimal, on 10/15/2007, -0/+2Anyone know the answer to this?
  • Strooperman, on 10/16/2007, -0/+2Good thing these carriers do not overcharge for their services or we would really have something to complain about!
  • concertina, on 10/16/2007, -0/+1Hey, that's funny. The banks told us the same thing about our private customer information, and lookie what happened :)

    All the best intentions in the world don't really mean much in the end. The more people you share information with, the more points of failure your security has.
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