In the News
In Verizon will stop selling real-time location data to third-party brokers, Micah Singleton discusses Verizon’s recent decision to stop selling user data to third-party vendors. Singleton elaborated that data presenting a customer’s exact location will not be sold any longer. Singleton explains that Verizon has taken the lead as the first US carrier to stop such a practice in the wake of multiple cases of third party data misuse.
Our Take
The security of personal information is important, but the security of physical safety is even more important. Knowing that companies sell data that can identify your location at any given moment is scary, especially given recent litigation around the extent of users’ right to privacy when that information is shared. Such information can also be used to track an individual’s habits over a given period of time, a dangerous tool in the hands of a malicious individual–and the more companies that store this information, the more likely it is that a malicious individual can get their hands on it. Verizon’s decision to stop such a practice is a step in the right direction for reasonable control of customer data.
Recommendations
So how can you protect your personal information and physical safety?
- Understand the risks of putting your personal information into the world ,and only share what you have to
- Consider turning off location and wireless services when you aren’t using them to prevent background leakage of location data
- Understand the legal rights and practices of companies that store your data
- Be cautious of your surroundings at all times