Telephone number privacy

Sometimes it's information people are, in effect, providing in exchange for services from businesses - such as shopping habits in exchange for discounts with supermarket loyalty schemes, or mobile telephone numbers to enter a competition. At other times, it is the information people volunteer when using the internet - for instance on social networking sites, people provide information that is intended for use by family and friends but can often be viewed by other people too.

So whilst sharing information is often unavoidable if people want to take advantage of modern services, they should understand how that information might be used and how it can be controled.

The launch of 118 800's mobile phone directory inadvertently created quite a stir in the UK's media and online communities, despite the fact that directory enquiry services in Scandinavia have listed mobile phone numbers for many years and have around three quarters of mobile phone subscribers happily listed. Undoubtedly, the issue which concerned consumers and journalists above all was a fear that the launch of 118 800 would result in unsolicited calls to mobiles from sales organisations and people they would rather not talk to. This isn't so, but it became clear that there is a great deal of misunderstanding about how telephone numbers become available for use by businesses in the UK, how these businesses use them and the rules that govern their use.

How telephone numbers get into the public domain?

Broadly speaking there are 3 ways in which telephone number details become publicly accessible:

Firstly, when people rent a telephone line from a phone company, that company will submit directory details to a database called OSIS (Operator Services Information System) which is the central number directory contributed to by all phone operators and run by an independent body called The Directory Solutions Unit. This is then used by directory companies to provide directory enquiry services in print, online or by phone. The telephone numbers can also be bought by organisations to add to the consumer lists they hold to enable them to make sales calls.

Secondly, by volunteering telephone numbers in the course of going about everyday life people may from time to time give permission for that information to be used again by the company or 3rd parties. For example, when they give a contact number to a company for help with the delivery of goods. Or when they complete a product guarantee card. These details are then compiled into lists and sold or shared between companies. Everyone on those lists gave permission for their details to be used in this way. However, people may not always realise they have given that permission if they don't read the information about how their data will be used. This information should always be explained to them in a company's Privacy Policy, and is usually alluded to alongside the fields in which people enter their information.

Thirdly, when people make their details available online - for instance on a social network - these can be available to people they wouldn't choose to give them to because the website they are using can be widely accessed and used by companies or individuals with intent on making sales calls. It is recommended to think carefully before people provide details to such sites for publication. People should consider who might have access to these details.

118800 mobile phone directory connect people who want, or need, to talk on the move but don't have the mobile number to hand, and never gives out anyone's mobile number. Not even to their closest friend!