please understand..it is NOT Google that is doing this. This is public information that has been available on the net for several years. As Sorcha says, Switchboard and several other places have had directories...including reverse lookup... available. You can find anyone who does not take pains to NOT be found. I have found old friends this way for several years. My number is in the phone book, so I can be looked up...that simple, and just today it proved to be a benefit to people that needed to find me.

There ARE security issues out there developing that may concern us, as our conservative government looks for more ways to track anyone they choose.....but this is not a biggie, unless you need extra privacy....in which case, your option is to get an "unpublished" phone #...not just 'unlisted'.