The government is absolutely allowing companies to "automatically enroll" its customers into programs they do not give any notice of. This one with Verizon, says:
“Verizon Custom Experience” is a program being pitched to users as a way for the company to “personalize our communications with you, give you more relevant product and service recommendations, and develop plans, services and offers that are more appealing to you.”
In the article there are instructions for how to OPT OUT. "You just need to log in to your Verizon mobile account on the My Verizon app and enter the Settings tab where you should see the option to leave Custom Experience and Custom Experience Plus. Press “Don’t Use” for both programs to keep Verizon’s snooping eyes away from your data. While you’re at it, you can toggle off more data-sharing options."
Just a legal way to lambast us with even MORE ads as we read our daily news lol. Yeah!! We all need more of those bombarding us and eating up our data right?