Why Do They Want My Phone Number?

Have you noticed that a lot more businesses are asking you to give up your phone number when you make a purchase. I never really thought about what type of privacy rights I am giving up by doing this until I read this article.

It's kind of scary the information that we are giving businesses about ourselves without realizing what we are doing. Here is an except from the article: "...Hoofnagle said there might be another drawback to providing a phone number at checkout: It could open a person up to telemarketing -- even if they are on the federal "do not call" registry. According to Hoofnagle, giving a phone number while making a purchase may establish a business relationship, and companies can call individuals on the "do not call" list with whom they have prior business relationships. ..."