May 08 2007
Verizon, WTF?
Apparently, Verizon really is run by a bunch of arrogant pricks…
AT&T’s argument that it was just following government orders didn’t wash with a judge, and now Verizon is claiming that its passing of information to the government is protected by the First Amendment. Yes, you read that correctly: it says the Electronic Communications Privacy Act is unconstitutional, and the information it passed to the government — in apparent violation of it, and to comply with the sort of warrantless surveillance the ECPA was designed to prevent — is constitutionally protected free speech. This seems tenuous at best, but it fits with Verizon’s MO.
Constitutionally protected free speech? Are you f’ing kidding me?
I wonder if Verizon has ever heard of CPNI…
In the United States, CPNI (Customer Proprietary Network Information) is information that telecommunications services such as local, long distance, and wireless telephone companies acquire about their subscribers. It includes not only what services they use but their amount and type of usage. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 together with clarifications from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) generally prohibits the use of that information without customer permission, even for the purpose of marketing the customers other services.
You might be wondering why I bring up CPNI… Well, absent a warrant, companies cannot do anything without your data. If you think about it, Verizon sharing your information with anyone that you don’t authorize is illegal and has nothing to do with free speech.
For God’s sake, Verizon, get your act together. First you sue the competition to shut ‘em down. Now you’re sharing customer information illegally?
Wow… I think, at this point, if you’re a Verizon customer, you’re a blinkin’ idiot.
Technorati Tags: verizon, cpni, ecpa, privacy, free speech
May 8th, 2007 at 10:14 pm
It amazes me how many telecommunication firms are bending over backwards to come up with “justifications” for providing information to the government without a warrant.
I can’t stand Verizon for a multitude of reasons, and they’re complete morons for claiming freedom of speech on this one.
May 8th, 2007 at 10:39 pm
That’s why I’m not a Verizon or Verizon Wireless customer.
September 22nd, 2007 at 9:22 pm
For anyone stuck with Verizon, at least call their CPNI opt-out number 800-333-9956.
October 1st, 2007 at 10:12 pm
I’m glad I read this post after opening my CPNI opt out option I received in the mail today.
April 19th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
Thanks Jeb!! Now if only they had a number to call that you could opt out of the company without getting a $200 disconnetion fee.