Mobile Phone Data

63ratattack

Hi everyone,
I'm starting this thread because I'm looking for some information on the retention and security of my data. Like everyone else in this country, I have a mobile phone. I have had the same number for 4 years now.

But I often wonder about my mobile network (meteor)'s handling of my data. I'm sure it is quite secure, I'm not concerned about anything leaking and meteor do provide me with an excellent service. But its something I've just become interested in finding out more about. I've read meteor's privacy policy but its very long and contains legal language I cant get my head around sometimes!

Does anyone know:
1. Exactly how long meteor holds your data for and for what purposes (in layman's terms!)?
2. What does it do with the data when finished with it?
3. Does it have access to the data it must hold for 3 years (due to legal reasons)?
4. Does anyone know how secure our data is - can just about anyone go and access the data that is only there for 3 years in case the gardai need to access it?

By the way, I e-mailed meteor about this but the person who deals with data protection wont be back until January so said I'd ask on here.

drunkmonkey

63ratattack wrote: »

By the way, I e-mailed meteor about this but the person who deals with data protection wont be back until January so said I'd ask on here.

scary stuff, a lot to be said for a pay as you go unregistered phone...
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2008/1107/1225925540654.html

if you want to find out what there holding on you write to them,

know your rights;)
http://www.dataprotection.ie/ViewDoc.asp?fn=/documents/rights/RightsPlainEnglish.htm&CatID=16&m=r

Sam Vimes

1. Exactly how long meteor holds your data for and for what purposes (in layman's terms!)?
for three years because they're required to by law

2. What does it do with the data when finished with it?
delete it

3. Does it have access to the data it must hold for 3 years (due to legal reasons)?
yes it does

4. Does anyone know how secure our data is - can just about anyone go and access the data that is only there for 3 years in case the gardai need to access it?
realistically anyone working in that area can go in and get it. they probably have some internal security but there's no guarantee of anything like that. people who don't work in the area wouldn't have direct access but they could ask someone to get it for them


any company you give personal information to has the ability to abuse it. your browsing history is the least of your worries tbh unless you've been going to sites you shouldn't be

drunkmonkey

Sam Vimes wrote: »

your browsing history is the least of your worries tbh unless you've been going to sites you shouldn't be

Is there any law that states what you can and can't do on the internet, I know the golden rule is you can't be wrong, but what's the rest?:)

63ratattack

Sam Vimes, I thought meteor could only use data for 6 months and then place it in a restricted access area for 3yrs where they werent allowed to do aynthing more with it??? Didnt know if that was right or not though

Can anyone enlighten me?

Sam Vimes

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Is there any law that states what you can and can't do on the internet, I know the golden rule is you can't be wrong, but what's the rest?:)

to be very blunt i was talking about child porn and the like.

63ratattack wrote: »

Sam Vimes, I thought meteor could only use data for 6 months and then place it in a restricted access area for 3yrs where they werent allowed to do aynthing more with it??? Didnt know if that was right or not though

Can anyone enlighten me?

well that might be true but not allowed to and not able to are very different things. they're not allowed to access your information at all unless they specifically have to for their job or if the gardai tell them to