IP: Time for the FED to intervene -- Denver Post's Ed Quillen on privacy

[David Farber <dave@farber.net>]

> Date: Tue, 08 Jan 2002 17:16:15 -0600
> From: John Kristoff <jtk@depaul.edu>
>  IP: Denver Post's Ed Quillen on privacy
>
> David,
>
> I haven't seen anyone mention a similar announcement I've received from
> SBC Ameritech.  I'm in Chicago and I received the following not long
> ago:
>
>     If you do not want us to use any of your service and usage
>     information to offer products and services, please call
>     800-303-7260 within 30 days of receiving this notice.  There
>     is no charge for electing to restrict your information.  By
>     allowing us to use your customer information, we will be able
>     to offer products and services that you may find valuable
>     based on your existing services.  Restricting your information
>     will not affect the products you currently have from SBC
>     Ameritech and may not eliminate all marketing contacts.  Even
>     if you restrict use of your information, it may be used to
>     market services to you.  Your election is valid until you
>     affirmatively revoke it.
>
>     The employees and management of all the SBC Ameritech family
>     of companies would like to take this opportunity to thank you
>     for your continued business.  We are proud to carry on our
>     long tradition of providing our community with reliable,
>     technologically advanced and affordable telecommunications
>     services.
>
> I tried the number a few days ago, sometime after work, and a recording
> said the office had closed.  I just called (5:00 p.m. CST) and went
> through an automated system, which allowed me to enter my phone number
> that disabled the service.  That is, before the system hung on me twice
> after a single ring and about 10 seconds of silence each time.  The
> recording says I can easily re-enable the marketing services at any
> time.  I could call back, enter my phone number and select the
> appropriate key - if you know my phone number, you could do this for me
> if you wanted to.
>
> John

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