RadioShack Is Auctioning Off Customer Personal Data

Among the assets the bankrupt retailer is selling are the names, e-mail addresses, and phone numbers of millions of RadioShack customers.

AT&T argues the data is not RadioShack’s to sell because the stash includes AT&T customer data too. RadioShack built up its trove of information by marketing phones with the telecommunications provider.  

According to a website maintained by RadioShack intermediary Hilco Streambank, more than 13 million e-mail addresses and 65 million customer names and physical address files are for sale.

There are several pending legal challenges to the sale of the personal data.  

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton alleges that the retailer made an explicit promise to its customers not to sell their information in a sign displayed in stores reading: “We pride ourselves on not selling our private mailing list.” The contents offer some details about shopping habits, he claims. 

Texas law prohibits companies from selling personally-identifiable information in a way that violates their own privacy policies. Tennessee has joined Texas's objection.  

The court has appointed a “privacy ombudsman” to hash out the issue of sensitive data.