Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!evax!cs4304ak
From: cs4304ak@evax.arl.utexas.edu (David Richardson)
Newsgroups: comp.org.eff.talk
Subject: Re: Caller ID problems
Message-ID: <1991Apr1.033531.21546@evax.arl.utexas.edu>
Date: 1 Apr 91 03:35:31 GMT
References: <13945@helios.TAMU.EDU> <1991Mar30.230852.9730@menudo.uh.edu> <13948@helios.TAMU.EDU>
Organization: Computer Science Engineering Univ. of Texas at Arlington
Lines: 28

In article <13948@helios.TAMU.EDU> byron@archone.tamu.edu (Byron Rakitzis) writes:
>I don't see how knowing the phone number of the incoming caller enables you
>to determine his/her address, name, and "other personal information". The
As a rule (if not today, then after Caller-ID becomes universal),
businesses will have thier computers tied into caller-id equiment.  This
is a double-edged sword.  It helps customer service, but it all but
eliminates privacy if/when desired.        

>I don't see how per-call blocking is a nice compromise, either. It rather
>defeats the purpose of caller ID, don't you think?
Yes, it does defeat the purpose of caller-id.  That is why it is a nice
compromise.  It *allows* the phone customer to have privacy at the cost
of some companies possibly not doing business with him &/or slower
customer service.  Without this compromise, the choice would not be
there at all.
(I can see it now:  1-900-ANON-CAL - we will place your anonymous phone
calls - only $0.95 a minute.  Kids, ask you parents before you call.)

>I think the issue of "privacy" here is and continues to be a red herring.
Red herring or not, it is obviously a concern, and can be addressed
without too much overhead (I assume) on the telco's part, & still have
caller-id for most people.

-- 
David Richardson   U. Texas at Arlington  +1 817 856 6637  PO Box 192053
Usually hailing from: b645zax@utarlg.uta.edu         Arlington, TX 76019
b645zax@utarlg.bitnet, SPAN: UTSPAN::UTADNX::UTARLG::B645ZAX   -2053 USA
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.