Protecting Privacy and Curbs on New Phone Technology

The American Civil Liberties Union takes issue with the views expressed by Charles Krauthammer in his column “Righting Our Telephone Barbarism” (Op-Ed Page, Jan. 7). We are not, as Krauthammer bemoans, “technological reactionaries,” attempting to close the curtain on the golden age of Caller ID. In fact, we recognize that Caller ID may be used to enhance people’s privacy by giving them more control over which calls they decide to answer. But, without restrictions, this new device poses a serious threat to our cherished (and legitimate) expectations of confidentiality.

With Caller ID, people will no longer control when and to whom to reveal their phone numbers, identities and location. Caller ID makes the decision for them, regardless of whether a call is made to an AIDS hot line, from a battered women’s shelter, from an unlisted number, or by an undercover police officer from a police station. Caller ID doesn’t make these distinctions.

Also, Caller ID may violate the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, the federal law that prohibits the unauthorized use of devices that “trap and trace” incoming phone calls. Congress is planning to hold hearings on this and other privacy issues this spring.

The ACLU believes there is a simple solution to this problem--Caller ID should only be available if callers are able to selectively block the display of their number. If Krauthammer receives a blocked call, he can just let it ring. Without legislation requiring that blocking devices go hand-in-hand with Caller ID, new technologies will continue to be marketed in a public policy vacuum that ignores long-held privacy traditions.

JANLORI GOLDMAN

ACLU Staff Attorney

Washington, D.C.