Cell phone directory grabs your number

Summary

A new service which claims to have the cell phone numbers of almost every single subscriber in the U.S., is selling those phone numbers for $15 dollars a search.

Launched by Intelius, which already sells online background checks for a fee, the service acquires "data from marketing companies and public records – all sources people have opted in to", according to Ed Petersen, Intelius co-founder and senior vice president of sales and marketing.

Asked how Intelius gathers cell phone information, Pederson explains that the company mines "billions of pieces of information" to connect names, addresses and phone numbers.

Cell phone directories have been considered many times, perhaps most seriously three years ago when the major wireless carriers considered the creation of a joint mobile phone directory. However, concerns about the assault on personal privacy that a cell phone directory represented motivated consumer groups and government agencies to pass laws requiring carriers to get explicit consent from their subscribers before listing any numbers.

“Intelius seems to be working within the law” because 'the drafters didn't contemplate third-party activity" says Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna who added that perhaps the law will need to be expanded in the future. Read the story.

Things to think about when reading this article

Beyond the disgust over issues like receiving telemarketing calls on your cell phone, this new "service" should make you stop and consider the impact to both your privacy and safety.

The claim by Petersen that Intelius acquires their “data from marketing companies and public records – all sources people have opted in to” is a stretch I think very few people would agree with.

Impact on your privacy

This directory, and Intelius' other "information services," represent a direct assault on your personal privacy. To date, the only people who had access to your cell phone number were those you gave it to. Now for a few dollars anyone can find and call you at any time.

In addition to cell phone numbers, however, Intelius also offers to sell a lot of other information ranging from Social Security number validation and birth date to everything anyone would want to know about your background - including your driving record and credit (history, lawsuits, bankruptcies, etc.).

Many companies, who requested your information for one purpose, freely sell it repeatedly for purposes you did not "opt into."  Intelius is simply one example of a company that mines billions of public records and buys personal information from marketing firms to sell (without anyone's consent) to whomever wants to buy it.

‘Legitimate businesses’ are not the only ones engaged in extracting your information from billions of pieces of data. Organized criminals by around the world are also systematically collecting your information. As hard as it may be to accept, YOU and your information are commodities that are being bought and sold over and over.

Impact on your safety

Services like this cell phone directory, and others that sell your information to anyone willing to pay a few bucks, can expose you or your family to significant physical, emotional, and economic risk.

Anyone in an abusive relationship, messy divorce, or the victim of harassment who changes address and phone numbers to avoid further contact, can see all their efforts at safety undone by a "service" that helps an abuser find them again for 15 dollars.

Jeopardizing someone's safety in this manner is of special concern when minor’s information is for sale – and these companies cannot guarantee the information they sell won’t expose a minor. Many parents bought cell phones for their kids specifically to protect them., but a cell phone directory like this one by Intelius should have parents reconsidering whether the risk of abuse outweigh the benefits. How many predators, bullies, stalkers, or would-be "friends", do you think should be able to buy any child's phone number?

The seriousness of mobile-bullying among youth (and adults) alone should raise grave concerns about a cell phone directory service. When bullies can discover and buy their victim's cell number, that's their ticket to abuse 24 hours a day. The standard mobile safety messaging “Be cautious who you give your cell phone number to” becomes useless when access to your number is no longer in your control.

Intelius does allow consumers to request their information be removed from their databases but as you’ll notice in the graphic below:

1. Intelius requires you to provide them information about yourself in order to do so.  This is not a confidence builder when your goal is to remove your information.   
2. You are required to fax your information (or send a notarized form) to Intelius’ customer service department. This not only poses an economic burden on you; faxing identity information is not a secure way to provide information and may further compromise your safety. 
3. Intelius caveats their agreement to remove your information, saying doing so does not stop them from reacquiring and then continuing to sell and expose your information.   Intelius’ current policy requires you to constantly monitor their site and re-request your information be taken down.  This is an outrage. If a consumer has taken the step to demand their information be removed it is unacceptable for Intelius (or any other data mining company) to store, use, or sell any information about you without first obtaining express permission.
4. Intelius does provide a customer service number. If you aren’t happy with the ‘service’ they provide my advice is that you give them a call and let them know it.

Call to Action

You have the right to demand that any information that may place you or your family at risk is protected.

• Demand that elected officials conduct a full privacy review of consumer information made publicly available by government agencies.  See my blog How government agencies expose consumers online for more information.
• Demand regulation that supports consumers' rights to block any company's sale, repurposing, or sharing of their information without explicit approval. Any information regarding minors should be subjected to particularly strict controls as by law they aren't able to give consent.
• You should have the right to demand the immediate and permanent takedown of information from any site profiting from the distribution of data that identifies, locates, or puts you or a minor in your charge at risk.