With so much focus on the National Security Agency’s monitoring and analysis of telephone records to catch terrorists, it’s easy to overlook that these records have been accessed for years by “data brokers.” 数据挖掘研究院
This year has brought an outpouring of legislative activity aimed at protecting the privacy of such records. Most recently, Congress began hearings on the ability of data brokers to collect Americans’ private telephone records without the knowledge or consent of the affected person. In May, the Federal Trade Commission sued one broker, alleging a violation of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which states that consumers’ phone records are private property. This year alone, 11 states have enacted laws protecting such information, and most other states have such legislation pending.
Given the scope of activity on this issue, it is clear that such disclosures have hit a nerve with the American public. What isn’t clear to many, however, is what information is being disclosed, how the data brokers can generate it and, finally, who is so interested in finding out my calling history?
Under Section 222 of Title 47 of the U.S. Code, every telecommunications carrier in the United States has a duty to protect the privacy of “customer proprietary network information.” This term, usually shortened to CPNI, means any information that relates to the use of a telecom service by a consumer made available to the carrier by virtue of its relationship with the consumer. 数据挖掘实验室
Normally sought after by investigators pursuant to a lawful search warrant in a criminal investigation, such information provides a “telecommunications fingerprint” that can point to accomplices, undo alibis and even, in the case of mobile service, provide information about a suspect’s location at a given time. It also can come in handy in a divorce trial, and this use, along with many others, is the source of the recent spate of legislative action.
