TeleSign generates a “reputation score” and sells it to various clients. TeleSign secretly received the mobile phone data from BICS, a Belgian company that provides interconnection services.
  • TeleSign, an American company, secretly obtained mobile phone data from BICS, a company that brings together telephone providers.
  • TeleSign generates “reputation scores” based on BICS data and sells them to clients like TikTok, Microsoft and Salesforce.
  • TeleSign checks over 5 billion unique phone numbers per month, accounting for half of the world’s mobile phone users.
  • BICS obtains detailed information about mobile phone users, including “reputation scores”.
  • TeleSign uses artificial intelligence models to analyze data and generate “trust scores”.
  • The secret use of telecommunications data is not in accordance with EU and national data protection laws.
  • The Belgian agency DPA can impose a fine on TeleSign and BICS in the amount of up to 236 million euros.
  • Template provided by noyb to request access to TeleSign data.