Verizon Wireless Files Suit to Protect Customer Records

[On the Road]

from an internal Verizon new release (no link):

Verizon Wireless has stepped up its campaign to protect wireless customers’ privacy by filing a lawsuit seeking an injunction against the owners of locatecell.com – Data Find Solutions, First Source Information Specialists and related companies – and other affiliated Web sites. The suit, filed Tuesday in federal court in New Jersey, seeks to prohibit the companies from obtaining cellphone customer-calling or billing information under false pretenses. Verizon Wireless claims these companies have fraudulently attempted to obtain customer records by calling Verizon Wireless customer service centers posing as Verizon Wireless employees needing access to confidential customer information. Verizon Wireless also applauded the recent focus on these issues from public officials, privacy advocates and law enforcement. Last week, the Federal Communications Commission said it was investigating how some Web sites obtained private cellphone records, and a cellphone privacy bill was introduced in Congress to protect customers' records from so-called online data brokers.

I was very upset about the release of wireless call detail records because my employer (Verizon, including the old Bell Atlantic) and the entire former Bell system placed a very high value on customer privacy. I'm glad they are doing this.

Note: Link to previous discussion

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=226461

[WindRavenX]

1. As a Verizon customer

I am glad to see this. I think I'll call them when I pay my cellie bill this month...

[On the Road]

2. I Don't Think Verizon Ever Willingly Gave Out Customer Call Records

They might have been sloppy, especially on the wireless side. On the landline side, there's still enough organization memory to take these issues seriously.