TL;DR version:

• Mobile carriers collect and sell customer data for profit.

• Carriers use various methods to collect data, including default settings that enroll customers in data collection programs without their knowledge or consent, and opt-in programs that require explicit consent but may use misleading language or design to trick users into agreeing.

• Major mobile carriers, such as AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile, collect customer data through their privacy policies, which often go unread by consumers.

• Carriers collect various data, including web browsing history, app usage, device location, demographic information, and more. Carriers also combine data collected from customers with information from external sources, such as credit reports, marketing mailing lists, and social media posts.

• They use this data to create models and inferences about customers’ interests and buying intentions, which they then share with advertisers for targeted advertising.

• Individuals can choose to opt out of data collection initiatives, utilize Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to limit data accessibility, and change to alternate Domain Name System (DNS) servers to reduce the amount of data gathered.