TRENTON, N.J., Sept. 27, 2007
Verizon U-Turns, OKs Pro Choice TXT MSG
Reverses Decision Denying Request By NARAL To Use Sign-Up Text Message Program
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(CBS/AP/Verizon)
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Interactive Abortion Debate It's one of the most hotly debated political and social issues in America. Review a history of that debate since the historic Roe v. Wade decision.
The announcement came a day after a unit of Verizon Communications Inc. said it had denied a request by NARAL Pro-Choice America for the program.
"The decision to not allow text messaging on an important, though sensitive, public policy issue was incorrect, and we have fixed the process that led to this isolated incident," Verizon Wireless spokesman Jeffrey Nelson said in a statement.
"Upon learning about this situation, senior Verizon Wireless executives immediately reviewed the decision and determined it was an incorrect interpretation of a dusty internal policy," Nelson said. "That policy, developed before text messaging protections such as spam filters adequately protected customers from unwanted messages, was designed to ward against communications such as anonymous hate messaging and adult materials sent to children."
The program by NARAL, based in Washington, D.C., lets people sign up to receive its text messages by punching in a message to a five-digit number. Known as "short codes," the five-digit numbers have become a popular way to get updates on everything from sports to politics to entertainment news.
Other leading wireless carriers have accepted NARAL's request to use their networks.
Nelson on Wednesday had said that abortion was among topics barred from mass distribution based on the company's code of content, but noted that the code had been developed "before text-messaging became a mass-market phenomenon."
Nancy Keenan, NARAL's president, told The New York Times, which first reported the story of Verizon's denial on its Web site Wednesday night, that Verizon's decision interfered with political speech and activism.
"No company should be allowed to censor the message we want to send to people who have asked us to send it to them," Keenan said. "Regardless of people's political views, Verizon customers should decide what action to take on their phones. Why does Verizon get to make that choice for them?"
Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications and Britain's Vodafone Group PLC.
© MMVII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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- deny VERIZON - they''re new world order corporate trash ... stop being obedient Germans - switch your cell service to Working Assets - www.workingassets.com
- Reply to this comment
- Posted by mike71067 at 04:23 PM
This post could easily be picked up by a data mining algorithm, then set up a tracking of what you download, websites you go to, etc etc.
NOBODY''s life is so perfect that their activities can''t be manipulated into something that a cop couldn''t arrest them, or a prosecutor couldn''t indict them, or a jury couldn''t find them guilty. Heck, even perfection doesn''t matter, just ask a cop too many questions... - Reply to this comment
- mike71067,
We are ALL harmed when the government can listen in whenever it wants without a warrant, and without answering to anyone! If proper safeguards are not in place, you could be hauled off to Guantanamo at a moments notice, because of something you said that was misinterpreted. Just look at what happened to the Oregon lawyer that was arrested after his house was searched and ransacked without a warrant under the patriot act! They ended up having to let him go a few weeks later, and admit their mistake. He filed a lawsuit and just today, a federal district judge voided parts of the Patriot Act because they violate the 4th amendment against unlawful surveillance and searches without probable cause.
As Benjamin Franklin once said "Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." - Reply to this comment
- "Verizon is also one of the fascist scumbag corporations that, "..provided customer information for NSA warrantless wiretaps..."
-Posted by FeelFree1 at 04:07 PM : Sep 27, 2007
Can you honestly tell us that the Patriot Act or the "warrantless wiretapping" programs infringed on your rights? Really. How were you harmed by this? Please give specific details.
I couldn''t care less if the CIA was listening to me. I am a law-abiding citizen, and I want the government to do whatever it takes to keep islamofascists from murdering more Americans. - Reply to this comment
Verizon is also one of the fascist scumbag corporations that, "..provided customer information for NSA warrantless wiretaps...".
Who, in their right mind, would give their business to these boot-licking puppet-Fuhrer appeasers?- Reply to this comment
- mike71067,
Sounds like YOU are the ignorant one! Verizon WAS censoring the text messages, until they changed their policy! You don''t have to be the ''goverment'' to censor, TV stations and Radio do it all the time, you f-ing IDIOT! (in fact, even this forum censors some words).
As to NARAL, they are called pro-choice, because that is what they are. They promote the idea that rather or not to have an abortion should be a choice, not forced on people! You can agree with it or not, but it''s not a hard concept to grasp, unless of course, you are an IDIOT! - Reply to this comment
- "Abortion is legal. If you don''t like abortion - don''t have one."
-Posted by oleander8 at 01:09 PM : Sep 27, 2007
I like your thinking. Similarly, handguns and high-capacity magazines are legal. Don''t like them? Don''t own one.
The Second Amendment guarantees the right to keep and bear arms. The First Amendment does NOT guarantee a right to abortion. OVERTURN ROE VS. WADE! - Reply to this comment
- Why does this article call NARAL "pro-choice"? They are actually pro-abortion.
My favorite quote: "No company should be allowed to censor the message we want to send to people who have asked us to send it to them," Keenan said.
"Censor"?! Verizon is NOT the government, and as such, "censorship" does not apply here. Typcal pro-abortion lib - ignorant about the constitution. - Reply to this comment
If they also allow so called Pro-life groups to do the same then what''s the problem here? Let there be a free flow of honest information out there and people can decide for themselves. That''s Democracy at work.
Of course, I can see the right wingnuts boycotting verizon for siding with free speech.- Reply to this comment
- Abortion is legal. If you don''t like abortion - don''t have one.
- Reply to this comment
- JoshDestard,
If you are going to object that is fine. It''s your right but please do it on a better basis. You can look at this as the PRO-CHOICE trying to force their beliefs on people also. - Reply to this comment
- someone said: "The 1st Amendment prevents the government from interfering with free speech, not private companies. Companies are free to set their own standards."
The 1st amendment does not PREVENT, it GRANTS to everyone a right to freedom of speech. A right is not conditional, and neither the government nor a company nor a person can interfere with a right without due process of law.
It is troubling that Americans are so timid and tentative when it comes to claiming and defending their rights. Defending these rights loudly and vigorously is what defined the nation. Yes it is an entitlement, and yes we are each entitled. - Reply to this comment
- I am glad I am with SPRINT. But I tell you this, I am a rather "active" member of the PRO LIFE movment. Right after posting this, I am going to call my former employer (Verizon) and make sure they will also allow pro life groups to send text messages to their members using Verizon''s service, if so then I have no problem with NARAL sending their pro-death messages. If not, I am going to contact the ACLJ which is a Christian legal group and verizon will be SUED.. Chose life - Your mother did !
- Reply to this comment
- These companies answer to their stockholders, not NGOs. It''''s called freedom, privacy, and capitalism. Why is this news? Posted by grpdiver
Phone companies are subject to the "common carrier" regulatory regime. The common carrier policy requires that a network owner treat all information the same, and prohibits the owner from halting, slowing, or otherwise tampering with the transfer of any data. - Reply to this comment
- I am with JoshDestardi! I don''t like anyone dictating what I believe. Which is why I object to the whole Pro-life movement. It''s all about imposing their belief''s upon every American in the form of laws. I am with AT&T and will not ever bother with Verizon if that is the way they are!
- Reply to this comment
- "Nancy Keenan, NARAL''s president, told The New York Times, which first reported the story on its Web site Wednesday night, that Verizon''s decision interfered with political speech and activism."
So what? The 1st Amendment prevents the government from interfering with free speech, not private companies. Companies are free to set their own standards. Walmart can choose to not to carry certain music. Verizon can choose what it carries on its network. Local TV stations can choose what to broadcast. Verizon can choose what concert tours to sponsor. Consumers can choose to buy or not buy from those companies. These companies answer to their stockholders, not NGOs. It''s called freedom, privacy, and capitalism. Why is this news? - Reply to this comment
- If I get Text Message Spammed by this Organization because Verizon allows such to happen I will drop the service Immediately and forever.
- Reply to this comment
- I work with Verizon Wireless'' corporate communications group. Jeffrey Nelson, spokesperson for Verizon Wireless and quoted in the story above, made the following statement this morning:
%u201CThe decision to not allow text messaging on an important, though sensitive, public policy issue was incorrect, and we have fixed the process that led to this isolated incident.
%u201CUpon learning about this situation, senior Verizon Wireless executives immediately reviewed the decision and determined it was an incorrect interpretation of a dusty internal policy. That policy, developed before text messaging protections such as spam filters adequately protected customers from unwanted messages, was designed to ward against communications such as anonymous hate messaging and adult materials sent to children.
%u201CVerizon Wireless is proud to provide services such as text messaging, which are being harnessed by organizations and individuals communicating their diverse opinions about issues and topics. We have great respect for this free flow of ideas and will continue to protect the ability to communicate broadly through our messaging service.%u201D - Reply to this comment
- Whether or not you are pro-choice, or pro-life, you should be upset with this...what happens when a company that you pay to provide a service dictates to YOU what information you can and cannot receive as far as political party, political beliefs, whatever else? Disgusting. I switched from VZ a long time ago.
- Reply to this comment
