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From: K4N@PSUVM.BITNET (Ken Nagelberg)
Newsgroups: comp.society
Subject: Telephone Privacy
Message-ID: <877@hplabsz.HPL.HP.COM>
Date: Thu, 15-Oct-87 13:38:08 EDT
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Posted: Thu Oct 15 13:38:08 1987
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[Article from CRTNET, October 14, 1987, Number 104]

     On NBC's TODAY show (10/7/87), a gentleman from New Jersey Bell
demonstrated a device which will be available to N.J. Bell subscribers.
The device instantaneously provides a readout of the telephone number of
anyone calling the subscriber's phone.  Thus, even if you have an un-
listed number or are calling an anonymous "hotline," your telephone
number would be in the hands of the person you called.

     This innovation raises a number of questions.  It breaks a number
of assumptions we have held about telephone use.  The benefits have, of
course, been touted by the phone company (which stands to profit by its
use).  A child picks up a phone in an emergency and dials 911 or 0, and
the operator instantly registers the orginating number.  Obscene phone
calls are instantly traced to their source.  On the other hand, so are
calls to the IRS, computer bulletin boards, and AIDS hotlines.

     Many are concerned with the "chilling" effect of such devices--will
the potential presence of such devices cut down on potentially beneficial
uses of the telephone as well as potentially criminal (or at least annoy--
ing) uses?  Perhaps the biggest effect will be an increase in pay telephone
use (again, more economic benefit to the phone company)!  Any reactions?

Ken Nagelberg