Our privacy: 'protected' while widely violated

[Commentary] Some of AT&T’s California customers recently received a notice saying that AT&T would be sharing their "customer proprietary network information" with affiliates "to offer you additional products and services." AT&T's recent notice, required by federal regulators, serves as a reminder of the importance of staying on top of how your personal information is treated by the various telecom companies you do business with. What the industry calls customer proprietary network information, or the even more wonky CPNI, includes numbers called, the timing and duration of calls, and the location from which calls are placed or received, as well as other information on your monthly bill. It can help telecom companies and their affiliates know whether you'd be a good prospect for an upgraded data plan or a pricier bundle of services.