Last week, Bell announced plans to implement new consumer monitoring and profiling practices that would greatly expand how it uses the information it collects on millions of subscribers. The planned scope of Bell's profiling is unprecedented in Canada, reflecting the power of a vertically-integrated media giant to effortlessly track their customers' location, media habits, search activity, website interests, and application usage.
The Bell plan generated a significant public backlash, with the Privacy Commissioner of Canada launching an immediate investigation. Yet the company steadfastly defended its plans, saying that users are supportive of the new policy and maintaining that it is fully compliant with Canadian law.
Given that many of its customers purchase bundled Internet and wireless services, the magnitude of the profiling extends to virtually all media and communications activity. Bell acknowledges that it will be tracking seemingly everything about its customers: which websites they visit, what search terms they enter, what television shows they watch, what applications they use, and what phone calls they make.
Moreover, all of that data will be correlated with additional data points such as location, age, gender, and even bill payment practices.
Why not 'opt-in'?
more
The Tyee – Is Bell's Plan to Monitor and Profile Millions of Canadians Legal?
The Bell plan generated a significant public backlash, with the Privacy Commissioner of Canada launching an immediate investigation. Yet the company steadfastly defended its plans, saying that users are supportive of the new policy and maintaining that it is fully compliant with Canadian law.
Given that many of its customers purchase bundled Internet and wireless services, the magnitude of the profiling extends to virtually all media and communications activity. Bell acknowledges that it will be tracking seemingly everything about its customers: which websites they visit, what search terms they enter, what television shows they watch, what applications they use, and what phone calls they make.
Moreover, all of that data will be correlated with additional data points such as location, age, gender, and even bill payment practices.
Why not 'opt-in'?
more
The Tyee – Is Bell's Plan to Monitor and Profile Millions of Canadians Legal?
