If the data hadn't been collected in the first place, it wouldn't be used against us. Data austerity is the best form of data protection. In this case the state mandates the data hoarding of telco providers, which makes it even worse.
For entities that fall under the jurisdiction of the Federal Communications Commission (the “FCC”), “[e]ach carrier that offers or bills toll telephone service shall retain for a period of 18 months such records as are necessary to provide . . . billing information . . ..” (47 C.F.R. § 42.6).
https://morningconsult.com/2017/04/25/tech-groups-push-fcc-u...
You can meet those legal requirements while (a) deleting all records after 18 months have passed and (b) storing all 'archive' records (e.g. between 30 days and 18 months) on a separate system that's only used for these specific requirements and has all access (which should be rare and narrowly specific, unlike daily business) logged.