Dallas, TX (TDP) – In the wake of massive consumer data breaches recently reported by Facebook and Equifax, U.S. phone companies now admit unknowingly releasing the names, addresses, and phone numbers for over 200 million Americans. Telephone industry sources also confessed to creating printed directories containing this sensitive personal information and distributing them directly to households across the United States, oftentimes wrapped in protective plastic.
This latest disclosure has renewed privacy concerns for millions of Americans and has led to calls for Congressional testimony from telephone industry executives. “The American people have a right to know how long this has been going on,” commented Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL). “I, for one, was totally unaware of this practice.” A spokesperson for the Association of Directory Publishers, Jackie Gibson, apologized and said that the 5,000 phone directories currently in publication nationwide would be obsolete soon. Until that time, Gibson suggested that worried consumers leave the directories outside in the rain where they will naturally decompose in fifty to sixty years.
Local millennials were among the most surprised to learn of this information disclosure practice. “I can’t find anything about me or any of my friends in this book,” observed Drew Benson, 27, of Yeehaw Junction. “But there was all sorts of stuff about my parents, my friends’ parents, and everyone’s grandparents. Someone could just look up my grandparent’s address and phone number and call them at home. I wonder if they know about this?”
Other locals were most concerned about the surreptitious use of their personal data resulting in advertising messages targeted directly at them. “It’s like they know just what I want,”noted Owen Hearst, 31. “There’s like six pages of ads for pizza places within fifteen minutes of where I live. It’s creepy.”
There was no word on whether political data consulting firm Cambridge Analytica had obtained access to any of this sensitive personal information. Efforts to reach the company for comment were unsuccessful. The phone number for their Washington, D.C. offices is unlisted.