IP: Denver Post's Ed Quillen on privacy

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

> Date: Tue, 08 Jan 2002 14:02:20 -0700
> To: dave () farber net
> From: Brett Glass <brett () lariat org>
> Subject: Denver Post's Ed Quillen on privacy
>
> Denver Post columnist (and long-time SNOBOL4 fan) Ed Quillen, in his usual 
> tongue-in-cheek style, discusses the implications of a small flyer he 
> found in this month's phone bill.
>
> --Brett Glass
>
> A losing qwest for privacy
>
> By Ed Quillen Denver Post columnist
>
> Tuesday, January 08, 2002 - Our friendly local telephone monopoly, Qwest, 
> has announced that it will use what it knows about us in order to get us 
> to spend more money with Qwest.
>
> To be fair, note that if you enjoy "please hold until the next service 
> representative is available" messages, you can call Qwest toll-free at 
> 877-628-3732 and request that your information be kept private. They'll 
> doubtless handle that with the same efficiency they've demonstrated on 
> installation and repair orders.
>
> What information are we talking about here?
>
> According to the brochure that came with my last telephone bill, "Account 
> information includes details about your service, such as how many lines 
> you have; features you may subscribe to or use as well as calling and 
> billing records. For toll calls that you are billed for, the information 
> includes the number the call comes from, the number it goes to and how 
> many minutes the call takes."
>
> There's no mention of unlisted numbers when Qwest explains that "your 
> name, address and telephone number are not generally considered 
> confidential account information."
>
> Where would this information go? "We expect to share information with 
> Qwest companies" such as the wireless, directory and long-distance 
> divisions. And "we may provide account information to firms that have 
> marketing arrangements with us."
>
> So, if Qwest acquires new subsidiaries, or if it cuts marketing deals with 
> other companies, then it can sell our telephone records.
>
> It's already difficult to be sure which companies are connected with 
> Qwest. For instance, if you sign up for Qwest DSL service, you get an 
> account on msn.com, as in MicroSoft Network, and so presumably Microsoft 
> has a "marketing arrangement" with Qwest and would be entitled to use your 
> telephone records.
>
> As for Qwest subsidiaries, there are some that don't get listed in the 
> formal corporate structure.
>
> For instance, Qwest acquired the assets of US West. My state senator, 
> Republican Ken Chlouber of Leadville, in 1999 observed that "the Colorado 
> General Assembly is brought to you by US West." So our legislature was 
> presumably one of the US West assets that came under Qwest when the 
> companies merged....
>
> Full text at
>
> http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1002,150%257E320534,00.html

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