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FCC Proposes New Restrictions On How Broadband Providers Share Data

An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Verge: In a 3-2 vote, the FCC agreed to propose new privacy rules for broadband providers like Comcast and Verizon, as part of the FCC's new powers under Section 222 of Title II. The proposal will now enter a comment period, in which providers and other stakeholders will weigh in, before the commission can vote on whether to approve it. Under the proposed rules, providers would have implicit permission to collect any data necessary for providing internet service, typically including name, IP address and other basic subscriber information. Unless the customer opts out, providers would also be able to collect and share data specifically for the purpose of marketing other communications services. Any other use of the data, like sharing it with third-party marketing programs, would require explicit consent from the customer. The rules would also institute new transparency and data security requirements.

6 of 23 comments (clear)

  1. violations followed by puny fines by turkeydance · · Score: 2

    and No convictions. that's our system!

  2. Opt-out/in by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I'd love to see an addition that anything a customer has the option of opting out of must be clearly and assertively stated up front. The things that I've discovered I'm allowed to opt-out of (and must legally be allowed to do so) were never even made clear to me in the first place until I went digging. I can't opt-out if I don't know what I'm already in.

  3. Not just broadband .... by gstoddart · · Score: 5, Insightful

    What we need are sane fucking data protection laws which says if you collect my information for business purposes, you may NOT use that for ANY reason other than why you collected it.

    Sharing MY data to make more money for YOU makes you a complete asshole.

    It's time we stopped fucking pretending that anything corporations do to make a profit is inherently good, and start realizing that corporations are greedy assholes who need to be reined in.

    Unfortunately, the idiot law makers are so heavily on the payroll they're incapable of doing anything BUT promote corporate interests.

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    Lost at C:>. Found at C.
  4. I think Google Fiber is in trouble... by steve6534 · · Score: 2

    They almost certainly harvest all kinds of information about their users to help subsidize the low price of service.

  5. Re:Consent? by Obfuscant · · Score: 3, Interesting

    No, the collectors of the data will simply buy a 0.5% share in the previous "third party" companies, turning them into second party data recipients! No need to ask you anything, you whiner.

  6. Re:Consent? by danbert8 · · Score: 2

    While not that far from the truth, AT&T is being pretty misleading about their "special offers" gigabit plan. Basically, if you want gigabit service it'll cost you twice as much to not have 3rd party marketers not having access to all of your browsing history.

    The worst part is, there is no way for the customer to verify that paying double is actually protecting your data. If AT&T can spy on you with your consent, they can do it secretly without your consent.

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    Yes it's an anecdote! Were you expecting original research in a Slashdot comment?