Corporate Data Mining

[Crabtownboy]

Many on the board were in an uproar over data mining by NSA. When the topic of corporations mining data some argued this was not happening. Well, folks it is. Here is just a bit of the policy by Verizon as it appears in a letter I received.

We collect information about your use of our products, services and sites. Information such as call records, websites visited, wireless location, application and feature usage, network traffic data, product and device-specific information, service options you choose, mobile and device numbers, video streaming and video packages and usage, movie rental and purchase data, FiOS TV viewership, and other similar information may be used for billing purposes, to deliver and maintain products and services, or to help you with service-related issues or questions. In addition, this information may be used for purposes such as providing you with information about product or service enhancements, determining your eligibility for new products and services, and marketing to you based on your use of your products and services. This information may also be used to manage and protect our networks, services and users from fraudulent, abusive, or unlawful uses; and help us improve our services, research and develop new products, and offer promotions and other services.

http://www.verizon.com/about/privacy/policy/

 

[Don]

If someone actually argued that corporations weren't data-mining, they were just plain being stupid or contrary.

That said, comparing corporate data-mining to the NSA's data-mining is comparing apples to oranges. You see, Verizon and all those other companies have you sign their Terms of Agreement. The NSA, however, is supposed to abide by the Constitution.