Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Government sale of cell phone numbers to telemarketing firms risking civil liberties
Fox News ^ | Last Updated: 11:61 PM 31 Mar 2009

Posted on 03/31/2009 9:04:53 PM PDT by Grig

WASHINTON – Thanks to a little known provision in the recent stimulus bill, your cell phone number will soon be in the hands of any telemarketing firm willing to pay the government’s fee.

Section 411 of the bill empowers the FCC to ‘raise government funds through the sale of information assets’. The language is so vague that there were no concerns at the time over the potential impact, but telemarketing firms have been beating a path to the FCC’s door since they quietly announced the availability of the information that cellular providers are required by law to file with the FCC, including the cell phone numbers of active accounts.

Delivery of these lists to the cell phone companies is due to begin in less than one week, and privacy advocates have been caught by surprise. “This is an outrage” stated Ann Onimus, vice president of Citizens for Secrecy.

Annoying telemarketing ads are nothing compared to the bleak picture painted by the group. “The technology exists to make a cellular call appear like it is coming from a person on your contacts list when it isn’t, but even worse is that this information can be used to tap into a person’s cell phone to upload their contacts and call history, or even to track an individual’s location as long as they have their cell phone turned on. No warrant, no warning, just instant and total invasion of privacy without you ever knowing.”

The lists are also available for sale to foreign companies, who can not be restrained by US law over how they use of the information.

While there is nothing akin to a ‘do not call list’ to remove your information from the list, Citizens for Secrecy advises protecting yourself by removing your cell phone battery when not placing a call, or keeping your cell phone stored in container lined with 1/16” of lead. For those who need the ability to receive unexpected calls, put the phone on vibrate and keep it next to the skin in a warm part of the body, such as the armpit or groin.


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: cellphone; telemarketing

1 posted on 03/31/2009 9:04:53 PM PDT by Grig
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Grig

Wow. If this is true, then this is going to be a major scandal for the Democrats.


2 posted on 03/31/2009 9:06:45 PM PDT by St. Louis Conservative
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: St. Louis Conservative

I want to recant my comment.

I’m an idiot.


3 posted on 03/31/2009 9:07:53 PM PDT by St. Louis Conservative
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: St. Louis Conservative
...Ann Onimus, vice president of Citizens for Secrecy.

Riiight.

4 posted on 03/31/2009 9:09:12 PM PDT by newheart (Obama. We kind of underestimated the creepiness.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Grig

This really sucks. It REALLY sucks when you wake up in the morning, realizing that the largest threat to your freedom, liberty, God given rights, your wealth and hard work, and security — is your OWN GOVERNMENT.


5 posted on 03/31/2009 9:09:31 PM PDT by EagleUSA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: EagleUSA

It was an April Fools joke. Next time follow the link. :-P


6 posted on 03/31/2009 9:11:20 PM PDT by LifeComesFirst (Until the unborn are free, nobody is free)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Grig

First time someone reaches for their ringing cellphone and has an accident, the lawsuit will end the practice.


7 posted on 03/31/2009 9:11:37 PM PDT by fso301
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Grig

Dang, you got me. I just got punked.


8 posted on 03/31/2009 9:15:19 PM PDT by BuckeyeTexan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Grig

I laugh whenever someone I know sends that cellphone telemarketing email around, and everyone panics again.


9 posted on 03/31/2009 9:19:29 PM PDT by soloNYer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LifeComesFirst

It was an April Fools joke. Next time follow the link. :-P
:::::::
OK, you got me. But given todays’ Washington climate and oppressive operation, it was easy to believe. This along with the ability of our phone numbers to be handed out if you do not participate in the “no call” list.

Regardless, my statement still stands.


10 posted on 03/31/2009 9:19:56 PM PDT by EagleUSA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Grig
My wife has been getting calls from pushy polling organizations on her cell phone. All of our numbers (cell and landline) are on the "do not call" list. The pushy bastards claim they aren't bound by that list. We're going to have a policy that a call simply won't be answered if the party attempts to block the caller id. The caller can leave a message if its important.
11 posted on 03/31/2009 9:47:29 PM PDT by Myrddin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Grig

; )


12 posted on 03/31/2009 10:05:36 PM PDT by happinesswithoutpeace (You are receiving this broadcast as a dream)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Myrddin

I’ve already implemented that policy, and couldn’t be happier with it.


13 posted on 03/31/2009 10:51:36 PM PDT by Slings and Arrows (Can't get enough of my snarking? http://twitter.com/slingsandarrows)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: EagleUSA

If you watch the headlines around here you’d think every day was April 1st.


14 posted on 03/31/2009 11:12:32 PM PDT by Zack Attack
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Grig

It’s actually quite easy to pull the contacts list, call history, and any stored text messages off a cell phone wirelessly, and all you need is the model of cell phone and who the cellular provider is.


15 posted on 04/01/2009 4:06:12 AM PDT by Grig
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BuckeyeTexan

You’re welcome. :)


16 posted on 04/01/2009 2:17:26 PM PDT by Grig
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson