Verizon Spying On Customers: Company Monitors Web Usage & More

Even though customers are getting upset over Verizon spying on their habits, the company says it's going to continue.

The latest privacy policy update released by Verizon on Thursday, Oct. 18, stated that if users agree to the terms, then they're internet habits will be monitored by the telecommunications company.

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That means that all of the websites users visit and the data gathered from their location services will be sent to Verizon.

Verizon sent out a press release that stated the following:

"Protecting data and safeguarding privacy are high priorities at Verizon. Verizon Wireless recently introduced a new program that involves the creation of new types of aggregate business and marketing reports.  For the business and marketing reports offered by Verizon Wireless, records about websites visited, cell phone locations and other consumer data will be combined (or aggregated) to compile reports that provide businesses with insights about their customers."

The main reason for the spying relates to gathering commercial data, which helps target specific advertisements to customers. By agreeing to the privacy policy, users also find that the data collected can be shared with other third-party companies.

According to BGR.com, Verizon talked about the collecting commercial data, stating, "A local restaurant may want to advertise only to people who live within 10 miles, and we might help deliver that ad on a website without sharing information that identifies you personally."

Verizon Wireless said it will track demographics, such as age and gender, of users as well as their interests, and target advertisements that are relevant to the user as a form of convenience and as a marketing strategy.

The statement by Verizon continued saying, "These aggregate reports could be used by web publishers to help provide content that is more appealing to users, or to help advertisers better select the ads they will display on outdoor billboards or at other venues."

The privacy policy comes as a default setting on Verizon phones. Customers that want out of the commercial spying have to go to Verizon's privacy center. Once there, users have to sign into their accounts and after reading the new policy and given the option, they must choose for their information not to used for commercial marketing purposes.