Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!mit-eddie!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!stanford.edu!neon.Stanford.EDU!Neon.Stanford.EDU!stanton From: stanton@Neon.Stanford.EDU (Scott Stanton) Newsgroups: comp.org.eff.talk Subject: Re: Caller ID problems Message-ID: Date: 10 Apr 91 15:54:47 GMT References: <1991Mar30.043415.7314@odin.corp.sgi.com> <13945@helios.TAMU.EDU> <1991Apr5.212502.22001@eci386.uucp> <1991Apr10.155422.26742@mintaka.lcs.mit.edu> Sender: news@neon.Stanford.EDU (USENET News System) Organization: Computer Science Department, Stanford University, Ca , USA Lines: 40 In-Reply-To: olsen@masala.lcs.mit.edu's message of Wed, 10 Apr 91 15:54:22 GMT In article <1991Apr10.155422.26742@mintaka.lcs.mit.edu> olsen@masala.lcs.mit.edu (James Olsen) writes: I have a much better analogy. Suppose that, after extensive research into Ouija boards and divining rods, I invent a magic box. When someone knocks on your door, my magic box will provide you a readout of the caller's name, address, and phone number. This is not exactly what CID provides. With CID you get the phone number and, with a little extra work, the name and location of the person who leases the line that the caller is using. When calling from home, this is equivalent info, but it won't always be the same (e.g. if you call from work or a friend's phone). Some people want to completely outlaw these magic boxes. Others say that it's OK to have them, but you must let anyone disable the magic box (by remote control) if they want. How do these people have the gall to say what I will or will not do to identify people who wish to enter my home? You do not have the right to steal this information from the person who wishes to enter your home. You may request that the person provide the information before you allow them into your home, of course. I think we have every right to place limits on your use of the magic box. You are not currently free to do anything you like to identify people who wish to enter your home. For example, you cannot force a person to undergo a cavity search simply because they knocked on your door. This is exactly the same (albeit a more extreme example) as "scanning" anyone who comes to your door. You are not giving them the choice of walking away once they see your requirements. Caller ID represents a significant invasion of privacy of the individual who makes the call. The decision about whether to divulge one's location when making a call should be up to the individual making the call. I do not see how you can claim the right to wrest that information away from the caller without their consent. -- --Scott (stanton@cs.stanford.edu)