Stanford CIS

the end of the wireless sanctuary

By Lauren Gelman on

This NYT article explains how millions of wireless users are signing contracts where the fine print allows providers to add them to a phone directory.

I like that my cell phone is 'unlisted.'  I know each time I pick it up-- it will be someone who I gave the number to.  This is especiallly important in a world where I have to pay for the incoming calls.  I don't want my limited minutes being eaten by direct marketers and other phone spam.

Maybe we need a wireless privacy act, like the fax privacy act and based on the same underlying argument-- when the receiving party has to pay for the communication, the burden shifts to the caller to get advance permission to initiate it (opt-in) instead of regulations like the do not call list where the recieving party bears the burden of advance notice that they do not want to receive the call (opt- out).

Published in: Blog