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AT&T Declares Consumers' Personal Data "Corporate Property"

What's Yours Is Ours, Ex-SBC Decrees

June 23, 2006

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Consumer advocates say it's a line drawn in the sand. For the first time, a major telecommunications company has gone on record laying claim to customer calling and Internet records as its own property.

AT&T is unveiling its new privacy policy, saying it does not share customer information with third-party marketers, but may share the data with government agencies.

AT&T telephone customers can expect their calling records to be among those scrutinized for terrorist links. The company will also collect information about which Web sites its Internet customers visit, including what links they click on.

"While your account information may be personal to you, these records constitute business records that are owned by AT&T. As such, AT&T may disclose such records to protect its legitimate business interests, safeguard others, or respond to legal process," the company said in its new policy statement.

However, Congress may place limits on how government agencies can access this personal data. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY). in a speech to the American Constitution Society, called for a "Privacy Bill of Rights."

"At all levels, the privacy protections for ordinary Americans are broken, inadequate and out of date. It's time for a new comprehensive look at privacy," Clinton said.

"We need consumer protections that are up to date with the technological and national security needs of our time, for a world in which we can be confident that our security and our privacy are both protected."

Clinton has said that she will introduce the Privacy Rights and Oversight for Electronic and Commercial Transactions Act of 2006, the PROTECT Act. Meanwhile, Congress is set to review actions of AT&T and other telecom companies for their reported cooperation with a National Security Agency program that scanned millions of phone records for terrorist links.

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