Business & Tech
What Happens to Sensitive Customer Data as Metro Detroit RadioShack Stores Are Auctioned May Surprise You
A "privacy ombudsman" has been appointed, but hasn't ruled on whether customer data can be included in RadioShack's assets.
RadioShack is closing two dozen metro Detroit stores – and customer data may be part of the sale. (Photo via Wikimedia/Creative Commons)
Guess what will happen to RadioShack customer data when the remnants of Radio Shack, whose 1,784 stores nationwide that will be closing include about two dozen in the metro Detroit area, goes on the auction block?
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Phone numbers, email addresses and shopping habits of more than 100 million customers will be part of the bankruptcy auction, Bloomberg News reports.
The 93-year-old retailer included that data in the assets in its bankruptcy auction, won by Standard General, a hedge fund that is one of RadioShack’s creditors.
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The data could go back several years and includes more than 13 million email addresses and 65 million customer names and physical address files.
Two legal filings attempt to block the sale of the data. One of those challenges, filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, says that RadioShack has previously promised its customers it would safeguard personal data. Stores posted in stores read, “We pride ourselves on not selling our private mailing list,” according to the filing.
AT&T also wants to stop the sale of data, arguing it’s not the retailer’s information to sell, but rather the property of AT&T, whose phones were marketed by RadioShack.
A “privacy ombudsman” has been appointed by the court to handle issues related to the sensitive data, but hasn’t ruled yet on whether it can be included in the aution.
Here’s a full list of the southeast Michigan stores that are closing:
- Briarwood Mall, Ann Arbor
- 4179 Baldwin Road, Auburn Hills
- 41821 Garfield, Clinton Township
- 3050 Union Lake Road, Commerce
- 16201 Ford Road, Dearborn
- 4960 Schaefer, Dearborn
- 26350 Ford Road, Dearborn Heights
- 1347 W. Eight Mile, Detroit
- 4501 Woodward, Detroit
- 32436 Grand River Ave., Farmington
- 8896 W. 8 Mile, Ferndale
- 3617 East Grand River, Howell
- 29480 7 Mile, Livonia
- 26122 Greenfield, Oak Park
- 3552 Pine Grove, Port Huron
- 67342 Main, Richmond
- 2516 S. Adams, Rochester
- 1215 S. Livernois, Rochester Hills
- 28755 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills
- 28684 Telegraph, Southfield
- Sterling Ponds, Sterling Heights
- Oakland Mall, Troy
- 47591 Van Dyke, Utica
- 35354 E. Michigan Ave., Wayne
- 35533 Ford Road, Westland
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