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Verizon, the cookie monster

When news of Verizon'southward unblockable "super cookie" broke last year, the wireless provider was initially defiant and refused to stop tracking users. Eventually, the company began offering opt-out options, after well-nigh half-dozen months, just only grudgingly. The telco obviously learned nothing from this series of events, because it's now openly acknowledging it will share personally identifiable data about subscribers with its newly acquired AOL segmentation.

First, some context. Nigh companies rely on privacy policies that at least pay lip service to the idea of anonymity. Despite the fact that research has shown how piece of cake it is to turn anonymized information dorsum into PII (personally identifying information), companies at least brand a token try to strip out details like names and addresses. Nether the terms of Verizon'southward new privacy policy, even this paper-thin protection is abolished.

The new policy states (emphasis added):

The all-time advertising is for something you might really want, and that is what we want to give you lot. To help brand this happen, starting in November, nosotros will combine Verizon's existing advertising programs–Relevant Mobile Ad and Verizon Selects– into the AOL Advertisement Network…"

VerizonTracking

How Verizon'southward supercookie works.

The Relevant Mobile Advertising program uses your postal and electronic mail addresses, certain information about your Verizon products and services (such equally device type), and information we obtain from other companies (such as gender, age range, and interests). The separate Verizon Selects program uses this same data plus boosted information nearly your employ of Verizon services including mobile Spider web browsing, app and feature usage and location of your device. The AOL Advertising Network uses data collected when y'all use AOL services and visit third-political party websites where AOL provides advertising services (such every bit Web browsing, app usage, and location), as well every bit information that AOL obtains from tertiary-party partners and advertisers.

We do not share information that identifies you lot personally every bit part of these programs other than with vendors and partners who do work for usa.

So far, then bad. Verizon acknowledges that it uses PII to testify you advertizing and that information technology combines this information with AOL'due south network. Co-ordinate to Pro Publica, AOL's advertising platform runs on forty% of websites today. But expect — it gets worse:

These programs use online and device identifiers, including AOL browser cookies, advertizing IDs from Apple and Google, and 1 created by Verizon, known every bit a "Unique Identifier Header." When the Verizon and AOL programs are combined, this Verizon identifier volition exist inserted in certain Web traffic that is sent only to Verizon companies (including AOL) and to certain partners. These partners will be authorized to use the Verizon identifier but equally part of Verizon and AOL services.

You're the product whether y'all pay for the service or not

There's a common saying in the tech manufacture — "If you lot aren't paying for the product, you are the product." Verizon'southward ad programme puts the prevarication to such pithy remarks. If y'all're a Verizon client, it's because you pay a meaning amount of money for the privilege — and in render, Verizon is at present claiming it has the right to rails you beyond all of your devices and share that information with anyone it chooses to work with. There'south no guarantee that information technology doesn't include third-party information brokerages like Acxiom. AOL, in fact, notes that it works with Acxiom, Session M, Taboola, and Tapad on an ongoing basis, which means you should assume they have your information.

If yous want to opt out of being tracked in this fashion, you can contact Verizon at 1-866-211-0874 or manage your privacy choices from within your business relationship settings. Y'all volition besides need to opt out of AOL'south interest-based ad tracking as well. If you are a fellow member of Verizon Selects, you will have to opt out of that program separately (once again, this is handled in Verizon'south privacy section).