Controversial Cell Phone Number Directory Closes Up Shop
Intelius built up its directory by purchasing call lists from other businesses and mining online services for cell phone numbers. Intelius then charged $14.95 for searching its database of roughly 90-million unlisted cell phones, or about half of the cell phones in the U.S.
Following a public outcry over the perceived privacy invasion, complaints over the convoluted opt-out process (which involves mailing or faxing in a copy of your drivers license), and the threat of legal action by Verizon Wireless, Intelius has decided that perhaps now is not the best time for its cell phone directory.
We're sure someone else will come along and resurrect this idea. The battle for cell phone privacy is far from over.
From Textually.org
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Joe @ Feb 4th 2008 7:11PM
companies selling or distributing personal information need to be shut down permanently.
Joe @ Feb 4th 2008 7:11PM
companies selling or distributing personal information need to be shut down permanently.
ajm33771 @ Feb 4th 2008 7:42PM
they should've been shut down a long time ago. the cause for them shutting down is probably having been sued multiple times for screwing people over with the information made available without regard to privacy concerns.
mike @ Feb 4th 2008 8:03PM
companies should have to refund all the incomming minutes too we need a class action lier or congress to do something about this
Future Plaintiff @ Feb 4th 2008 8:07PM
The problem here is that once your information is out on the web, that's it. No return, no do over, no get off the list, it's out there for the world to find forever. Even if it has been removed from their site it is still on the web. I have found home phone numbers ("unlisted") of mine from years ago still showing up on multiple websites.
Bret @ Feb 4th 2008 8:15PM
Good. I am glad those assholes can't sell our private cell numbers. Can at least ONE THING be sacred?
Sal DiGiacomo @ Feb 4th 2008 9:50PM
From an earlier article:
" complaints over the convoluted opt-out process (which involves mailing or faxing in a copy of your drivers license), and the threat of legal action by Verizon Wireless, Intelius has decided that perhaps now is not the best time for its cell phone directory."
-Hmmm...
grvdm @ Feb 4th 2008 11:21PM
If this trend continues someone will be able not only get your cell number pupblished which will cascade to these thieves to get copies of your driver's license and which very easily give them your social security nuber and steal everything you have in the bank. I usually do not beleive in restrictions however in this case Congress should pass laws restricting this type of abuse which would proliferate hackers.
grvdm @ Feb 4th 2008 11:36PM
This shows that BIG BROTHER is trying to watch what they didn't watch before 911.
Wanting these powers are unconstitutional and should be fought from every corners. This whole affair of the missing E-Mails smells very much like the NIXON era. Also did the missing E-mails refer to oil revenues or Haleberton business ????? I hope history will eventually show the sad history of the past eight years.
CHANESAW @ Feb 5th 2008 12:28AM
I think the officers and directors of Intellius should be convicted and sentenced to substantial prison time. These people are vile and without any redeeming qualities.
Ricky P @ Feb 5th 2008 1:15AM
Yeah Well! It's alot of BS when your cell is called for serveys and other crapp as wanting donations and telemarketers and especially for those who are Pre Pay! Companies such as this need Haul Their Azzes!
Sarah @ Feb 5th 2008 1:21AM
The new number for the Do Not Call List: 1-888-382-1222. Call this number from each phone you want blocked from telemarketers, etc. It takes a couple of minutes but is well worth the time to block all the unneccessary callers.
Sarah @ Feb 5th 2008 1:34AM
They will also get off the phone quickly if you say, "I'm on the do not call list." That works fast. They hang up immediately. The number is 1-888-382-1222 to get on the Do Not Call List. You will have very few if any calls after you list your number on the do not call list. It really works.
Dr. J @ Feb 5th 2008 1:44AM
It would be nice if any consumer can buy the cell number of Intellius CEO for $14.95. It would give the public the opportunity to let him/her know how they feel in the name of freedom of expression. He or she in turn can not complain, since the public would be supporting the very technology that he/she believes it serves the public.
jim @ Feb 5th 2008 2:48AM
IT IS ALREADY HAPPENING. THERE IS AN EMAIL CIRCLING THAT THEY HAVE A $5000 UNCLAIMED PRIZE FOR A CELL PHONE. THEY WANT YOU TO ENTER IN YOUR MAILING INFORMATION AS WELL.
Mike Sanders @ Feb 5th 2008 3:51AM
What a shameless and unpatriotic act of privacy!
Barbara @ Feb 5th 2008 6:35AM
Now - what about zabasearch.com?
Addresses for all the world to see. Even unlisted.
Affiliated with Intellius
tempfate @ Feb 5th 2008 9:14AM
FuturePlaintiff you are absolutely correct, and unfortunately the to combat this is to be a practioner of misinformation. Of course the first thing you here is why are you doing that, what do you have to hide, that is far from the point rather that as a citizen living in a supposedely free country one has the constitutional right to be free of pursuit and invasion of one' personal life by business marketeers. The business of mining information is exploding so the only way to try and combat it is to practice misinformation. There are services out there Netzero' private phone was good, but they're shutting down, but Grand Central owned by Google is new and good, use a number you choose anywhere in the country and you have it forwarded to your private numbers or not. But this has to stop and maybe one way is to throw a monkey wrench in the system using misinformation.
butch @ Feb 5th 2008 11:01AM
this is so strange, i just look in the white pages of aol.com listings, and there was my home phone, address, and yes my cell phone number. i hit the roof, and called aol. com, and told them they had no right to publish my cell number to anyone! they quickly told me how to remove it!! kinda late for that........i have no idea how long it had been published for all to see??? it's now removed...........check the white pages people, and be sure your cell is not listed!!!!!
Bozly @ Feb 5th 2008 12:02PM
Uh GBO, and major LOL, uh FOLKS, YOUR PRIVATE INFO IS SOLD over and over and over again, You give out your SS# to get even ELECTRIC UTILITY SERVICE, or at the Doctors office or CC or , well you name it, your SS# is REQUIRED from kindergarten or preschool enrollment on thru ANY and ALL "normal" activities that one engages in and OH, Here in California, was standard operating "service" of the state govt. to sell DRIVERS LICENSE LISTS and don't forget your banker...THERE IS NO PRIVACY, google or dogpile yourself and discover what IS available for starters, but there are far more information services available as well that are used and abused all along the way and far too late to close the door on it, no stuffing back into a bottle or box !!!