Verizon wants you to give up Web privacy—in exchange for movie tickets

[LASER_oneXM]

Verizon Wireless is offering a new rewards program that requires opting in to another Verizon program that shares customers' Web browsing history with "vendors and partners."

The new program is called Verizon Up, a replacement for the similar Smart Rewards program, and it lets customers earn a credit for every $300 they spend on Verizon Wireless products and services. Credits can be used to claim rewards such as "streaming subscriptions, movie tickets, and discounts on device upgrades."

In order to enroll in Verizon Up, customers must also agree to enroll in Verizon Selects, a targeted advertising program that shares one's Internet and app usage history with other companies.

Verizon Selects has been around for a few years. The program's participation agreement specifies a long list of personal information that can be used to direct advertising at specific users. It includes Web browsing history and other information that can personally identify customers.

"We do not share information that identifies you personally outside of Verizon as part of this program other than with vendors and partners who do work for us," the program terms say (emphasis ours). "We require that these vendors and partners protect the information and use it only for the services they are providing us."