In an effort to strengthen privacy of mobile phone users, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) of USA has set new rules that refrain country’s telephone and mobile phone service providers from disclosing customers’ personal details without a password.
As per the new privacy rules, it is now mandatory for the companies like Verizon Communication and AT&T to inform customers immediately when there are changes to their accounts, such as new password, a new address or an online account. They are also required to seek customers’ approval before disclosing phone records to a third party.
Admitting unauthorized disclosure of consumers’ private calling records a serious privacy invasion, Kevin Martin, Chairman of FCC describes,
Compliance with our consumer protection regulations is not optional for any telephone service provider. We need to take whatever actions are necessary to enforce these requirements to secure the privacy of personal and confidential information of American customers.
The FCC introduced new rules in the wake of increasing number of cases of pretexting. The rules are also applied to the VoIP service providers.
