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RadioShack sells out your email address
May 21, 2015 10:17 pm
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If you bought something at a RadioShack store in the last decade or so, you may have noticed the firm was always persistent about getting all customer's email and physical addresses, and other information. If you visited a RadioShack store, or its website in recent years, you may have come across the electronics store's privacy policy. “The information you give us is treated with discretion and respect,” says the RadioShack website. “We pride ourselves on not selling our private mailing list. From time to time, we may send you information from our company or from select, responsible companies that may join with RadioShack to bring you special offers.” But now that the company has gone under, all things must go. The bankrupt firm is attempting to unload social security numbers, emails, home addresses, and telephone numbers from 67 million customers. But, PC World reports, RadioShack made an agreement May 20 with the 38 U.S. states that were suing the electronics outlet because of the data handover. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said that credit or debit card account numbers, social security numbers, dates of birth or phone numbers will still be transferred to General Wireless Operations, the winner of both of RadioShack's bankruptcy auctions. But if you bought something from RadioShack more than two years ago, your data is being dumped, and you need not worry. General Wireless will give more recent customers, PC World reports, "an opportunity to opt out from having their information transferred to General Wireless within one week from being served a notice." And General Wireless says it will in the future honor RadioShack's old policy of not selling its customers' data. New York’s Attorney General Eric Schneiderman called that a victory for consumers’ privacy, and said it could serve as a model for future bankruptcies.
If you bought something at a RadioShack store in the last decade or so, you may have noticed the firm was always persistent about getting all customer's email and physical addresses, and other information. If you visited a RadioShack store, or its website in recent years, you may have come across the electronics store's privacy policy. “The information you give us is treated with discretion and respect,” says the RadioShack website. “We pride ourselves on not selling our private mailing list. From time to time, we may send you information from our company or from select, responsible companies that may join with RadioShack to bring you special offers.” But now that the company has gone under, all things must go. The bankrupt firm is attempting to unload social security numbers, emails, home addresses, and telephone numbers from 67 million customers. But, PC World reports, RadioShack made an agreement May 20 with the 38 U.S. states that were suing the electronics outlet because of the data handover. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said that credit or debit card account numbers, social security numbers, dates of birth or phone numbers will still be transferred to General Wireless Operations, the winner of both of RadioShack's bankruptcy auctions. But if you bought something from RadioShack more than two years ago, your data is being dumped, and you need not worry. General Wireless will give more recent customers, PC World reports, "an opportunity to opt out from having their information transferred to General Wireless within one week from being served a notice." And General Wireless says it will in the future honor RadioShack's old policy of not selling its customers' data. New York’s Attorney General Eric Schneiderman called that a victory for consumers’ privacy, and said it could serve as a model for future bankruptcies.