The no-questions-asked sale of phone call records by US data brokers has prompted a huge security flap. The disreputable practice forced the Chicago Police Department to warn officers that their call records might be easily obtainable - potentially exposing the identities of police informants to criminals. Privacy advocates are also alarmed at the effects access to call records through online sources might have on civil liberties.

US Senator Charles Schumer is calling for laws to specifically criminalize phone record theft. He hopes the laws will be put in place while state officials in Illinois consider legislation to ban the sales of people's call records. All well and good, but what about putting more pressure on phone companies to keep records more secure?

The Electronic Privacy Information Center has filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission over these practices. It has also submitted a petition to the regulator asking it to act to make sure phone companies improve their security safeguards. Meanwhile, consumers are advised to ask their phone companies to install a password on their individual accounts in a bid to block unauthorised access. ®

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• FTC sues over mobile phone records sale (4 May 2006)
• Cellcos and senate vs social engineering (27 January 2006)
• US calls sale scandal picks up steam (24 January 2006)
• Cingular accuses two firms of stealing customer records (17 January 2006)
• Comment Tracked by cellphone (22 December 2005)
• MEPs vote for mandatory data retention (14 December 2005)
• Consumers punish firms over data security breaches (15 November 2005)
• NY enacts security breaches disclosure law (12 August 2005)
• Groups fight internet wiretap push (23 December 2004)
• Feds invite comment on VoIP wiretaps (26 September 2004)