May 08, 2008

EPIC, Privacy Groups, Technical Experts, and Legal Scholars Support Opt-In for Telephone Services

EPIC filed a “friend of the court” brief (pdf) today in federal appellate court urging support for opt-in safeguards for telephone customers. The brief was filed on behalf of consumer and privacy organizations, technical experts, and legal scholars. At issue is the Federal Communications Commission’s Order that protects consumers' telephone record information, which the National Cable and Telecommunications Association has challenged. "Consumers have a legitimate expectation of privacy with respect to sensitive personal information such as whom they call on a telephone," the brief said. "An opt-out policy would provide neither adequate protection for consumer data nor sufficient notice to consumers."

NCTA v. FCC, Electronic Privacy Information Center, May 6, 2008.