A recent update to Verizon’s Privacy Policy shows that they are using data collected by your data usage etc. and giving it to 3rd parties. They are collecting information like the websites you are visiting and device location information. They say this is being used strictly for marketing and your name and phone number will not be shared.
We personally feel its none of Verizon’s business what we do and where we are with our devices. We surely don’t think that third parties should get their hands on any of this information. The worst part is that they are opting you into this automatically. By default your account is set to collect data and send it to Verizon per the terms you signed when you started a contract with them.
One redeeming factor is that you can opt out of the data collection (so they say) from your account online. You can login to your account and opt-out, just look for “Don’t use my information”. Se below for more information on the Notice:
Why am I getting this notice?
Your privacy is an important priority at Verizon Wireless. Our Privacy Policy (available at www.vzw.com/myprivacy) informs you about information we collect and how we use it. Today we want to tell you about some important updates relating to two new uses of information. Verizon Wireless will begin using the information described below for (1) certain business and marketing reports and (2) making mobile ads you see more relevant. If you do not want us to use this information for these purposes, you can let us know by using one of the options described in the “Your Choices” section of this notice. This supplements our Privacy Policy.
What information are we talking about?
Under these programs, we willnot share any information that identifies you personally.
Verizon Wireless will use the following categories of information:
Mobile Usage Information:
•
Addresses of websites you visit when using our wireless service. These data strings (or URLs) may include search terms you have used
•
Location of your device (“Location Information”)
•
App and device feature usage
Consumer Information:
•
Information about your use of Verizon products and services (such as data and calling features, device type, and amount
of use)
•
Demographic and interest categories provided to us by other companies, such as gender, age range, sports fan, frequent diner, or pet owner (“Demographics”)
Is my information shared?
Under these new programs, we will not share outside of Verizon any information that identifies you personally.
HOW INFORMATION
WILL BE USED
DESCRIPTION
EXAMPLE
To create business and marketing reports.
We will combine Mobile Usage Information and Consumer Information in a way that doesnot personally identify you. We will use this information to prepare business and marketing reports that we may use ourselves or share with others.
A report might state that 10,000 mobile users visited a sports website in a month and 60% were men.
For other companies to create business and marketing reports.
We may also share Location Information with other companies in a way that doesnot personally identify you. We will allow these companies to produce limited business and marketing reports.
The data we provide could be combined with data provided by other wireless carriers to create a report on the number of mobile users who take a particular highway during rush hour.
To make mobile ads you see more relevant.
When you use your wireless device, you often see ads on websites and apps. Using certain Consumer Information (such as your Demographics, device type, and language preference) and the postal address we have for you, we will determine whether you fit within an audience an advertiser is trying to reach. This means ads you see may be more relevant to you. We will not share any information that identifies you personally.
A local restaurant may want to advertise only to people who live within 10 miles, and we might help deliver that ad on a website without sharing information that identifies you personally.
Your choices.
If you do not want us to use your information for any of the purposes described above, please let us know at any time by:
•
Visiting
www.vzw.com/myprivacy
Or
•
Calling 1-866-211-0874
You will receive mobile ads whether you participate or not, but under the advertising program, ads may be more relevant to you.
If you have a Family SharePlan® or multi-line account, you must indicate your choice for each line. If you add a line or change a telephone number, you will need to update your
privacy choices.
22 COMMENTS
i DON`T WANT ANY ADS ON MY CELL PHONE AT ALL.i ALREADY HAVE RECEIVED SOME AND I`M VERY DISTURBED BY IT . I DON T WANT MY PERSONAL INFOS GIVEN OUT TO ANY YAHOOS OUT THERE. THANKS
I am responding to the notice about verizon sharing information. I do not want my personal information sent to anyone so please remove my name from your list and have me on your privacy list instead.
I DO NOT wish you to use my information for any purpose. I am notifying you as required and would like you to acknowledge this email response.
Thank you.
Marilyn Uveges
I do not want my information shared with anyone. Further I do not want any advertising on my cell phones 409-651-1856 or 409-466-3119. I failed to find a proper opt out format on line. This better be it. I don’t want to learn later that my opt out option was not honored.
I tried unsuccessfully [3] times by phone. I do not want any information or advertising shared on any of my cell numbers or home lines #727 235 2959 & 727 392 4406.
Thank you
Joe Mariani
I do not want any type garbage(advertising) on my cell phone. If this was a free service plan I could understand this as a revenue source, but this is not a free plan, I am paying good money for this telephone service and for the instrument, so therefore this is wrong. I do not feel that users of verizon service plans should have their e-mail accounts used as garbage cans for unsoliticed advertisers to dump there garbage in.
I do not want any type garbage(advertising) on my cell phone. If this was a free service plan I could understand this as a revenue source, but this is not a free plan, I am paying good money for this telephone service and for the instrument, so therefore this is wrong. I do not feel that users of verizon service plans should have their e-mail accounts used as garbage cans for unsoliticed advertisers to dump there garbage in.
We, Daniel and LaVerne Espinoza, do not authorize Verizon et al to share Local Information with other companies and Verizon is not authorized to share our Consumer Information with other companies and any other sources that may desire to access such information listed above.
This prohabitionsi provided according to the “Your Choices” notice within the Verizon published “Important Update About How Verizon Wireless Uses Information” update.
Verizon does not have my authorization to share local information with other companies and Verizon is not authorized to share our Consumer Information with other companies and any other sources that may desire to access such information listed above.
I ask (insist) that Verizon NOT use our information for sharing with third parties or with anyone outside Verizon’s billing department. We do NOT want to receive any advertisements phoned or texted into our Verizon cellphones, and we call on Verizon to block this unwanted traffic entirely. If your fine words about customer privacy being ‘a priority’ for you mean anything, then act accordingly: protect us.
I feel the same way: I INSIST that Verizon NOT share my information with third parties or with anyone outside Verizon. I do NOT want to receive any advertisements on my phone or texted to my Verizon cell phone. Please block any messages and all messages of that type. Respect my privacy. Thank you.
Privacy appears to come at a premium these days. Already researching alternatives. This is getting out of hand. I pay a price for a device, pay a monthly bill and yet I have no access to my personal information. What I do with my phone is my personal business. Already looking for an alternative. Might revert back to a dumb phone.
I do not have a Verizon cell phone. I do have Verizon'”Home Phone Connect”, and, “MiFi”. I suppose the,”Sharing of Information”, applies to these devices also. If so, I want no information from phone or MiFi shared with any parties. It would have been real simple to opt out of Information Sharing with a simple, “yes” or “no”, confirmed on the Verizon web site.
i DON`T WANT ANY ADS ON MY CELL PHONE AT ALL.i ALREADY HAVE RECEIVED SOME AND I`M VERY DISTURBED BY IT . I DON T WANT MY PERSONAL INFOS GIVEN OUT TO ANY YAHOOS OUT THERE. THANKS
I am responding to the notice about verizon sharing information. I do not want my personal information sent to anyone so please remove my name from your list and have me on your privacy list instead.
I DO NOT wish you to use my information for any purpose. I am notifying you as required and would like you to acknowledge this email response.
Thank you.
Marilyn Uveges
i donot want my information shared with any one,& no advertisements on myhome phone 804 6399189 or my cell 804 3568222
thank you
billy r clark
I do not want my information shared with anyone. Further I do not want any advertising on my cell phones 409-651-1856 or 409-466-3119. I failed to find a proper opt out format on line. This better be it. I don’t want to learn later that my opt out option was not honored.
Thank You.
William Beard
Just an FYI to those of you that are opting out from our article. You need to login to your Verizon account to opt-out we can’t do it for you 🙂
I tried unsuccessfully [3] times by phone. I do not want any information or advertising shared on any of my cell numbers or home lines #727 235 2959 & 727 392 4406.
Thank you
Joe Mariani
I do not want any information or advertising shared on our cell number or home lines
I do not want any information or advertising shared on my cell phone!
I do not want any information or advertising shared on my cell phone.
I do not want any type garbage(advertising) on my cell phone. If this was a free service plan I could understand this as a revenue source, but this is not a free plan, I am paying good money for this telephone service and for the instrument, so therefore this is wrong. I do not feel that users of verizon service plans should have their e-mail accounts used as garbage cans for unsoliticed advertisers to dump there garbage in.
I do not want any unsolititated responses.
I do not want any information nor advertising shared on my cell phone
I do not want any type garbage(advertising) on my cell phone. If this was a free service plan I could understand this as a revenue source, but this is not a free plan, I am paying good money for this telephone service and for the instrument, so therefore this is wrong. I do not feel that users of verizon service plans should have their e-mail accounts used as garbage cans for unsoliticed advertisers to dump there garbage in.
We, Daniel and LaVerne Espinoza, do not authorize Verizon et al to share Local Information with other companies and Verizon is not authorized to share our Consumer Information with other companies and any other sources that may desire to access such information listed above.
This prohabitionsi provided according to the “Your Choices” notice within the Verizon published “Important Update About How Verizon Wireless Uses Information” update.
Verizon does not have my authorization to share local information with other companies and Verizon is not authorized to share our Consumer Information with other companies and any other sources that may desire to access such information listed above.
I do not want my information shared with any one, and I do not want Ads on my phone.
A simple box to check would have been sufficant to opt out of any information release.
I ask (insist) that Verizon NOT use our information for sharing with third parties or with anyone outside Verizon’s billing department. We do NOT want to receive any advertisements phoned or texted into our Verizon cellphones, and we call on Verizon to block this unwanted traffic entirely. If your fine words about customer privacy being ‘a priority’ for you mean anything, then act accordingly: protect us.
I feel the same way: I INSIST that Verizon NOT share my information with third parties or with anyone outside Verizon. I do NOT want to receive any advertisements on my phone or texted to my Verizon cell phone. Please block any messages and all messages of that type. Respect my privacy. Thank you.
Privacy appears to come at a premium these days. Already researching alternatives. This is getting out of hand. I pay a price for a device, pay a monthly bill and yet I have no access to my personal information. What I do with my phone is my personal business. Already looking for an alternative. Might revert back to a dumb phone.
I do not have a Verizon cell phone. I do have Verizon'”Home Phone Connect”, and, “MiFi”. I suppose the,”Sharing of Information”, applies to these devices also. If so, I want no information from phone or MiFi shared with any parties. It would have been real simple to opt out of Information Sharing with a simple, “yes” or “no”, confirmed on the Verizon web site.