T-Mobile recently informed its wireless customers of an update to its privacy policy which affects how the company shares users’ data.
As a T-Mobile customer, I received the notice about my options.
Did You Get This Privacy Notice From T-Mobile? If So, Read On
In this article, I’ll walk you through the steps of opting out of the T-Mobile privacy policy so that you can protect your data, which is something money expert Clark Howard strongly encourages.
T-Mobile’s New Privacy Policy
When it comes to data sharing, T-Mobile was the last major carrier to hold out on sharing customers’ data. But starting April 26, 2021, it will join AT&T and Verizon in providing third parties with data sifted from customer habits.
Clark says that the wireless cell phone companies have built “massive electronic dossiers” based on the activities of their users.
“The good news is that you can pretty easily shut down permissions for the cell phone carriers engaging in extreme spying for every app you use, everything you read, everything you purchase, every website you visit,” he says.
Here’s How To Opt Out of T-Mobile’s Ad-Targeting Policy
T-Mobile’s new privacy policy states that it doesn’t share information that directly identifies its users. Still, you may not like that everything you do on your phone will be fair game to be captured, categorized and sent to other companies.
In its privacy policy, T-Mobile says it shares your broadband and device data in marketing reports it provides to third parties. On the carrier’s site, you can control how your data is used in two areas: the Reporting & Analytics reports and the Relevant Ads program.
You can opt out of T-Mobile’s ad-targeting policy by following these steps:
- Go to tmobile.com.
- Click on Update Your Settings.
- Select your service: Choose T-Mobile or Metro by T-Mobile or Sprint.
- Log in to your account (this will take you to the relevant page).
- Toggle “Off” next to “Use my data for analytics and reporting.”
- Toggle “Off” next to “Use my data to make ads more relevant to me.”
Screenshot of appropriate Settings page on T-Mobile website
Final Thoughts
Just to be clear, opting out of T-Mobile’s data-reporting policies won’t stop ads from appearing. What it will do is prevent the use of information about your online activity to make the ads more targeted to you.
Clark says the U.S. approach to user data and privacy still has a ways to go.
“I believe that all these kind of things should be ‘opt in,’ where you say, ‘Sure, I’d love for you at Verizon to know everything about me, every personal item I buy, everything I do.’ On the other hand, in the United States, you generally have to opt out. And these companies count on the fact that we’re not going to know we can opt out, or we don’t know how to.”
Not a T-Mobile customer? You may want to check out the privacy policies for AT&T and Verizon.
