It’s no mystery that government agencies compel tech companies to give them (totally legal) access to user data. It’s also pretty well known that the tech companies charge the government for the trouble. We’ve just never really known how much—until now.
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In an update on its Public Policy Blog, AT&T disclosed that it may begin selling anonymous user data to retailers and marketers, with the end goal being “to deliver more relevant advertising to… customers.” The carrier is far from the first to sell aggregate information — here’s looking at you, Verizon — but the provider is unique in combining data on TV, WiFi and wireless usage. The company said it could also provide aggregate info about users’ app usage and U-Verse info.
Also notable in the new privacy policy: AT&T notes that it could sell information about individual users, with the stipulation that the data would still be kept anonymous, and media research companies would only be able to use that info in aggregate reports. While this is hardly a case of AT&T pushing new privacy boundaries, users can opt out of the program (see the second source link below).
Filed under: Wireless, Mobile, AT&T
Via: FierceWireless
Source: AT&T Public Policy Blog, AT&T
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