caseys Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 It seems a mobile Public Directory is launching later this month. It means you can call 118 800, give a name and town, narrow down by age, street name, post code etc and they'll give you the mobile number if they've got it and connect you for £1. If you want to 'opt-out / ex-directory' from this service you have to text 118 800 with just E in the text message. Wonder how popular it'll be A public mobile phone directory for the UK will launch later this month, loaded with millions of private numbers bought from marketing departments. From June 18, callers to 118800 will be asked for a first name, a surname and a town*. If a match is found, they will be connected to that person's mobile for £1. Connectivity, the start-up firm behind the service, says it will never give out numbers or other personal details, and will ask the recipient's permission before connecting the call. It also promises in its FAQ not to sell or pass data to commercial organisations, and to monitor its directory for any suspicious usage patterns. The firm is coy about how it built its list of "many millions" of mobile numbers. "Our mobile phone directory is made up from various sources," Connectivity wrote. "Generally it comes from companies who collect mobile telephone numbers from customers in the course of doing business and have been given permission by the customers to share those numbers." Simon Davies, director of Privacy International, briefly worked as a consultant on the venture, which is backed by the investment firm 3i. He left two years ago after it became clear the business plan was dependent on opt-out, rather than an opt-in consent. "There was just nothing I could contribute after that," he said. "It's a fundamental problem that people may not have expected their number to be used for this purpose when they didn't tick a box on form for something else." Davies said the firm's apparent unwillingness to discuss its data sources was also concerning. "It's wrong. There's no point in them dodging the issue," he said. When it first announced the service in 2007, Connectivity said it would contact each person whose mobile phone details it purchased for permission to include them in the directory. Those plans were dropped, however, and the firm now says it will give each person the chance to opt out the first time they are contacted via the directory. Children will not knowingly be included in the directory, but Connectivity said that where a parent is the phone owner it may still list the number. Its website offers an opt-out for parents which takes up to four weeks to take effect. The 118800 website also allows those who want their number to be included in the directory to upload their details. ® *Further personal details such as street name can be used to narrow down the search. Bootnote The service is currently in web-only trials. During highly unscientific Reg testing it was unable to find a match for anyone we know. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/06/09/mobile_phone_directory/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz6002 Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 Surely that's not legal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caseys Posted June 9, 2009 Author Share Posted June 9, 2009 Surely that's not legal? Afraid so... The UK data watchdog has given the green light to a controversial directory of millions of mobile phone numbers, which launches next week. News of the 118800 mobile directory raised privacy worries today, but the Information Commissioner's Office said it was satisfied it would comply with the law. More here.. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/06/09/connectivity_ico/ You can pay the usual £10 fee to the company to find out what data they have on you under the Data Protection Act. I'm unsure if that includes *where* they got it from though. Then if you don't like the data, go ex-directory. Fiendish isn't it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz6002 Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 That's a real joke. I can't imagine anyone knowingly having their details on their database. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lexsum Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 being on a database is a matter of modern life - from registration of birth onwards you are on someones list (and always will be.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caseys Posted June 9, 2009 Author Share Posted June 9, 2009 That's a real joke. I can't imagine anyone knowingly having their details on their database. Just takes one online quote where you didn't (or did) click the wrong box about sharing your details with a 3rd party. Car insurance quotes, purchases online. Can you honestly tell me you've read every T&C of everywhere you've put your mobile number into as a contact point? Yes I agree, I wouldn't knowingly agree to be on that database, but I wonder if I am. Some websites say tick the box if you don't want us to share details, some say tick the box if you don't mind us sharing details and people just misread them. Many Mobile providers actually maintain a directory that you have to opt out of when you sign a mobile contract. I know o2 did, don't know if they still do. 15p a number ... 10 million numbers. Easy cash to make. Heck a forum could sell 3000 members details and make a whopping £450 if phone numbers were stored and the T&Cs agreed to it. I am wondering how many people will test the system and see if they can get connected through to their own mobile. I'm intrigued but haven't tried it myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz6002 Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 being on a database is a matter of modern life - from registration of birth onwards you are on someones list (and always will be.) But the list isn't accessable by the public. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lexsum Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 you can buy anyones extract birth certificate if you want to. you can access the voters roll too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz6002 Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 you can buy anyones extract birth certificate if you want to. you can access the voters roll too. You mean the electoral register? You can't access the real one mate, just the edited version. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hogmaw Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 You can opt out and become ex-directory direct from their website here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbourner Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 Got sent this today as well. They don't give out your number though just put the person through to you, so I don't see it as that much of a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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