Verizon Wireless crosses the privacy line on Web browsing

[Commentary] Verizon Wireless, the country's most popular mobile phone operator, has been quietly inserting into its customers' Web browsing sessions an identifier unique to each device they use, making it possible for websites and advertising networks to build profiles of individual customers based on their browsing habits. What's worse, even if Verizon's subscribers happen to find out about this and ask the company to stop, it won't. Rather than inviting the rest of the Internet to violate its customers' privacy, Verizon should find a more respectful way to generate advertising dollars. Ideally, Verizon and other Internet providers wouldn't plant identifiers in their customers' data without their explicit consent in advance. If Verizon doesn't see the problem with its actions here, the Federal Trade Commission should enlighten it.