Summary
Like most carriers and big companies, T-Mobile loves to collect personal data. While that’s typically done for targeted ads and other marketing, it still gives many users pause. And now, it looks like T-Mobile has fired up two more collection processes, which are enabled by default.
In regards to T-Mobile, you can usually turn off all sorts of ads and personal data settings in its Privacy Center, but it’s a good idea to check back on occasion and make sure all the settings are how you want them. According toThe Mobile Report, T-Mobile just added two more toggles to its privacy controls, and you’ll certainly want to disable one of them, if not both.
To find these new settings, open the T-Life app on your T-Mobile phone, navigate to the Manage tab, click the gear icon, and scroll down to find and open thePrivacy and Policiessection. After you hit “Get Started,” a dashboard with various privacy controls will open.
In the privacy dashboard, you’ll find two new ones labeled “Fraud and identity theft protection” and “Sharing certain financial information.” Both of these new options collect information and use it to keep you safe.
The first one, which is supposed to help with fraud and identity protection, will gather your account information and activity, device info, calling and texting patterns, and interaction with URL links you click on the web to “create indicators of potential fraud.” Now, any way a company can help prevent fraud or identity theft is likely a good thing, so this one is probably a personal decision as to whether you want T-Mobile collecting all that information.
As for the second one, it doesn’t sound as good. The next option will gather and share specific financial information, which T-Mobile claims will gather data to manage and update options like device financing and postpaid plans. However, it also says if you turn this option off, it’ll stop sharing your data with financial companies for joint marketing, non-affiliates and their marketing, or things like your creditworthiness.
The identity protection might be useful, but I’d disable the option that collects data for marketing purposes. For more details, you can check out T-Mobile’s overallPrivacy Notice, which may help answer any questions.
