Automated assistant and call recording
If you telephoned a business and an automated assistant answered, this page explains what it is, what it does with what you say, and what you can ask for.
You are speaking with an automated assistant
The assistant says so at the start of every call. It is a computer programme that uses artificial intelligence to understand what you say and to reply. It is operated by Blackthorn Labs LLC on behalf of the business you called.
You can ask for a person at any time. Say so in your own words. You will be transferred, or offered the chance to leave a message, according to the rules the business has set.
What the assistant cannot do
- It is not an emergency service. If you describe an emergency it will tell you to hang up and dial 911.
- It does not give legal, medical or financial advice.
- It does not quote prices or make commitments beyond what the business has approved.
- It can be wrong. Anything important is confirmed by a person at the business.
Whether your call is recorded
Each business decides whether its calls are recorded or transcribed. Where they are, the greeting tells you so before anything else is said. If the greeting did not say the call was recorded, it was not.
Some states require everyone on a call to agree before it is recorded. The announcement in the greeting is how that notice is given. If you do not want to be recorded, say so or end the call, and contact the business another way.
What is kept from your call
Normally your name, the number you called from and what the call was about. The business receives a written summary. Where the business has chosen recording or transcription, those are kept as well.
The assistant never asks for a payment card number, a bank account number or a Social Security number, and does not record one. If you need to pay, you are directed to the business's own payment process. Please do not read out card or account numbers on the call.
Who the information belongs to
The business you called. Blackthorn Labs LLC handles it only to deliver the service to that business and does not sell it, does not use it for advertising, and does not use it to train artificial intelligence models.
How long it is kept
For the period the business has chosen, and for 90 days where it has not chosen one. When a business stops using the service, its information is deleted after a 30 day period in which the business can take a copy.
How to stop calls or texts
Tell the assistant, in your own words. Stop calling me or take me off your list is enough, and there is no particular word you have to use. If you received a text message you can also reply STOP. Other ways are on the text message terms page.
What you can ask for
To know what was kept from your call, to have it corrected, or to have it deleted. Ask the business you called, because the information is theirs. You can also write to contracts@blackthornsec.com or call 810 656 9539, and the request will be passed to the business.
For businesses using the service
You may link to this page from your own website and privacy policy. Each heading has a fixed
address, for example recording.html#recording, which will not change.