FCC Proposal: Internet Providers Must Ask To Share Your Data (foxnews.com)

The FCC has unveiled a new privacy proposal Thursday that is sure to appeal to millions of internet users. Internet service providers? Not so much. The proposal would require ISPs like Verizon and Comcast to get your permission before sharing your precious info with advertisers. Fox News reports: The Federal Communication Commission has changed its broadband-privacy plan since it was initially proposed in March. The wireless and cable industries had complained that under the initial plan, they would be more heavily regulated than digital-ad behemoths like Google and Facebook, who are monitored by a different agency, the Federal Trade Commission. The FCC explained its new approach Thursday and plans to vote on it Oct. 27. The revised proposal says broadband providers don't have to get permission from customers ahead of time to use some information deemed "non-sensitive," like names and addresses. The previous plan called for customers to expressly approve the use of more of their information. This time around, customers still need to OK broadband providers' using and sharing a slew of their data, like a phone's physical location, websites browses and apps used, and what's in emails. And customers must be told what types of information is kept and how it will be used, and agency officials said they can still say no to internet service providers using other data, like names and addresses.

Comments

But..

[Anonymous Coward]

Does it allow them to refuse to sell internet to people if they don't agree to this?

if so it doesnt matter, jut another line in the EULA that no one reads

Privacy Fees

[KingBozo]

Well if the ISP were smart they would come up with a fee, the amount they get from selling the data, and then change that fee to customer that don't want to share their data.

Simple win win for everyone. We know their business model is not so great, but it is currently part of the income they make, to prevent ISP resistance to this proposal they just enable a fee, I know I would be happy to pay a little more for my privacy. Similar to how I will pay for a phone app that doesn't collect/have ads/etc instead of use a free one with data collection/ads/etc.

Re:Privacy Fees

[ZenShadow]

Since when was having a government-granted monopoly not a great business model?

Besides, that's like saying you're okay with extortion, because that's effectively what such a fee would be. "Give me fifty bucks, or I'll give your personal data to SolarCity and they'll harass you."

That data is MINE. If nothing else, it's incredibly disrespectful for any company to sell it on without my consent. It's just sad that this is the norm these days.

Re:Privacy Fees

[Obfuscant]

Since when was having a government-granted monopoly not a great business model?

Which ISP has a government-granted monopoly? I know of none.

BS.

[msauve]

ISPs should be treated like common carriers, and prohibited from collecting any data from the content which flows through the network in the first place.

Thing is, they want to have their cake and eat it, too. They want immunity from responsibility for their customer's content, but also want to monitor it.

While they're at it...

[Solandri]

How about:

• Banks must ask to share your data
• Credit card companies must ask to share your data
• Cell phone companies must ask to share your data
• Websites must ask to share your data
• Retailers must ask to share your data
• Companies you do business with must ask to share your data
• Your data belongs to you, and anyone who is not you must get your permission before they can share your data

This is a proposal?

[Snotnose]

Jeebus Christo, it should have been the default all along.