California Private Investigator Practice Exam

What does the Telephone Records and Privacy Protection Act of 2006 prohibit?

1. Access to public record information

2. Pretexting to obtain confidential phone records

3. Collecting public employee data

4. Recording phone calls without consent

The correct answer is: Pretexting to obtain confidential phone records

The Telephone Records and Privacy Protection Act of 2006 specifically prohibits pretexting to obtain confidential phone records. Pretexting involves using false pretenses or deceptive techniques to obtain private information from a telephone company about an individual’s phone records, such as call logs and billing details. This legislation was enacted to protect individuals from having their private communications and personal data accessed without their knowledge or consent, thereby strengthening privacy rights. While the other choices address important issues regarding privacy and information access, they are not directly related to the scope of the Telephone Records and Privacy Protection Act. The act focuses on the methods used to access phone records, particularly deceptive practices, rather than general access to public records, collecting data on public employees, or recording conversations. These matters may be governed under different laws or regulations, but they do not fall within the specific prohibitions set forth by this act.