AT&T to own customer data, track some Internet use

If you want to roll with AT&T as your Internet provider, or if you?re already one of AT&T?s 7 million customers, be prepared to get cozy with the Federal Government, because the Federal Government?s about to get really cozy with you.

According to an AP story running today, AT&T will begin requiring its customers to agree that it?s okay for AT&T to share all of your account information ? as well as your user names, passwords, charges, payments, online purchases, and where you click to on the Internet ? for sharing with the governmental agency of its choice: CIA, FBI, Department of Homeland Security.

Oh, and AT&T will provide this information with or without a warrant.

The nation’s largest phone company said it was merely updating and clarifying its privacy policy. “The spirit of the privacy policy and the practices have not changed,” said Michael Coe, a spokesman for AT&T. “There has been no change to how we collect, use or protect our customer information.” It?s just now, they have you on record as agreeing to these terms of service; before, they did it without your permission.

Privacy advocates said it was noteworthy that AT&T was claiming to own customers’ records ? and forcing customers to go along.

“That’s a significant change and very disappointing as a consumer,” said Pam Dixon, executive director of the World Privacy Forum, a nonprofit privacy-advocacy group. “I don’t want to have to sign privacy policies I don’t like just to get a service.”

You can read more about this story at AT&T to own customer data, track some Internet use.