[privacy] AT&T rewrites rules: Your data isn't yours

["Richard M. Smith" <rms () bsf-llc com>]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/06/21/BUG9VJHB9C1.D
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<http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/06/21/BUG9VJHB9C1.
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<http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/06/21/BUG9VJHB9C1.
DTL> AT&T rewrites rules: Your data isn't yours 
- David Lazarus <mailto:dlazarus () sfchronicle com> 
Wednesday, June 21, 2006 



AT&T has issued an updated privacy policy that takes effect Friday. The
changes are significant because they appear to give the telecom giant more
latitude when it comes to sharing customers' personal data with government
officials. 


The new policy says that AT&T -- not customers -- owns customers'
confidential info and can use it "to protect its legitimate business
interests, safeguard others, or respond to legal process." 


The policy also indicates that AT&T will track the viewing habits of
customers of its new video service -- something that cable and satellite
providers are prohibited from doing. 


Moreover, AT&T (formerly known as SBC) is requiring customers to agree to
its updated privacy policy as a condition for service -- a new move that
legal experts say will reduce customers' recourse for any future data
sharing with government authorities or others. 


The company's policy overhaul follows recent reports that AT&T was one of
several leading telecom providers that allowed the National Security Agency
warrantless access to its voice and data networks as part of the Bush
administration's war on terror. 


"They're obviously trying to avoid a hornet's nest of consumer-protection
lawsuits," said Chris Hoofnagle, a San Francisco privacy consultant and
former senior counsel at the Electronic Privacy Information Center. 


"They've written this new policy so broadly that they've given themselves
maximum flexibility when it comes to disclosing customers' records," he
said. 


AT&T is being sued by San Francisco's Electronic Frontier Foundation for
allegedly allowing the NSA to tap into the company's data network, providing
warrantless access to customers' e-mails and Web browsing. 


AT&T is also believed to have participated in President Bush's acknowledged
domestic spying program, in which the NSA was given warrantless access to
U.S. citizens' phone calls. 


...

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