Privacy advocates slam AT&T on records
AT&T said it owns customer data and can give it over to law
enforcement
(Reuters) - Privacy advocates slammed AT&T Inc. Thursday for declaring
that it owned its Internet and video customers’ account information
and could hand the data over to law enforcement if needed.
AT&T Wednesday updated its privacy policy, which came as the company
and other phone operators faced lawsuits claiming they aided a U.S.
government domestic spying program by inappropriately handing over
millions of call records.
“My understanding is that they will be monitoring television viewing
habits, and that it’s a condition of service that customers can’t opt
out of,” said Paul Stephens, policy analyst at Privacy Rights
Clearinghouse. “It’s frightening,” he said.
In the policy update, which applied to AT&T’s more than 7 million
Internet and video customers, the company said it could collect usage
information from subscribers, including the Web pages they view, the
programs they record, and the games they play.
Customers must agree to the terms, which take effect on Friday, before
using AT&T’s services.
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