FCC Pressed to Protect US Phone Data

Along with just about every product, now it appears that phone records are being sold online. Recently, the US-based Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) filed a petition with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) urging it to establish more stringent security standards for telecommunication carriers in order to protect its customers' personal information. In its petition, EPIC argues that the provisions of the current US Telecommunications Act do not adequately protect consumers from unauthorized third parties obtaining access to records and exploiting such data for personal and financial gain. In support of its allegations, EPIC points to the numerous online data brokers and private investigators offering to sell such information, and EPIC cites evidence showing that such information has been obtained illegally. According to the petition, both individual and business phone records are being misappropriated. For an individual, his or her phone records can be used to track daily habits or communication history, while for a business, client lists and contact information can be gleaned from its records. EPIC suggests that telecommunication providers should take security measures including the use of consumer-set passwords, audit trails, encryption and the limiting of data retention. The experience of Paris Hilton earlier this year highlights the importance of protecting telecommunication accounts. In February, her T-mobile Sidekick phone was hacked into, leading to her address book being distributed on the Internet much to the dismay of her celebrity contacts. To review a copy of the FCC's petition, visit: http://www.epic.org/privacy/iei/cpnipet.html To review an additional article on the FCC issue, visit: http://www.freepress.net/news/11172 To read an article on Paris Hilton's hacking story, please visit: http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1009_22-5584691.html Summary by: Lenni Carreiro