Sprint Sues Vendor, Claims Privacy Violations

Sprint Nextel Friday said that it has sued a company that it claims uses "illegal and deceptive practices" to obtain information about its cellular subscribers.

Sprint said that it has filed suit in a Florida court against 1st Source Information specialists, which it claims has four online sites that use fraudulent tactics to access subscriber cell phone records. Sprint said in its complaint that the company uses tactics such as posing as customers who are asking for information about their own accounts.

Earlier this month, Illinois sued 1st Source Information Specialists, claiming similar invasions of privacy.

"1st Source Information Specialists continues to display egregious disregard for privacy, and previous industry-driven actions do not appear to have deterred their illegal activities," Kent Nakamura, Sprint Nextel's chief privacy officer, said in a statement. "We can assure our customers that we will make every effort to put these services out of business."

Sprint is asking for both temporary and permanent injunctions against the company.