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Verizon, AT&T, Comcast Say They Will Not Sell Customer Browsing Histories (reuters.com)
Comcast, Verizon, AT&T Inc said Friday they would not sell customers' individual internet browsing information, days after the U.S. Congress approved legislation reversing Obama administration era internet privacy rules. From a report on Reuters: The bill would repeal regulations adopted in October by the Federal Communications Commission under former President Barack Obama requiring internet service providers to do more to protect customers' privacy than websites like Alphabet's Google or Facebook. The easing of restrictions has sparked growing anger on social media sites. "We do not sell our broadband customers' individual web browsing history. We did not do it before the FCC's rules were adopted, and we have no plans to do so," said Gerard Lewis, Comcast's chief privacy officer. He added Comcast is revising its privacy policy to make more clear that "we do not sell our customers' individual web browsing information to third parties." Verizon does not sell personal web browsing histories and has no plans to do so in the future, said spokesman Richard Young.
They'll sell them in bulk, not individually. Though, they'll probably make more money data mining than selling. Like how Facebook doesn't sell your data but lets advertisers exactly target the group they want. Technically Facebook didn't sell your data, but to the end user the visible effects are the same.
Google doesn't sell individual user's behavior either, it sells buckets of users it calls audiences. Nobody wants to market to one person anyway.
Saying they won't sell your specific habits doesn't mean shit, they will big data you into buckets like "movie lover", "gadget enthusiast", "jerks it to interracial porn ferociously every sunday". That will get sold and you will be marketed to based on it.
Comcast is known to inject packets into http streams to put up their own messaging, they've done it before. Now they will sell that space / service.
Well, not THIS year... But once everyone is paying attention to something else, perhaps... Fine print is easily and often changed.
First, F you for making so that in order to tell the truth, I end up defending *Verizon*. Please be careful about stating untruths about assholes; I don't like posting stuff that makes Verizon look less bad.
Second, the article you linked to, based on a post the EFF has retracted, does NOT mention browser history.
Third, did I mention RERRACTED.
According to the article you linked to, on one particular Verizon phone you can OPT IN to an app that lets them see which APPS you have installed. Nothing to do with browser history whatsoever, and it's opt-in.
Why would they sell it? It is far more valuable to pump into their own (Aol/Yahoo) ad exchanges and not share it with Google/Facebook.
They aren't going to sell your information, that's just ridiculous. They know they'll make way more money if they just lease access to your information. ;)
Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.
Your raw data isn't what's sold most of the time. It's insights and scores derived from it algorithmically. These scores and categorisations are their 'corporate opinion', and in the US are protected as free (corporate) speech. With the US law system the biggest threat is being sued for libel, which is why they are very careful to always sell these scores as 'likelyhood', not fact. Although the clients use it as fact all the same. The databroker-market (worth 150 billion in 2015) doesn't sell YOUR data, they sell THEIR data (which is based on your data).
An example is Facebook's data about your interests that advertisers use. Some databrokers have up to 3000 'opinions' for sale, including your 'likely' interests, political affiliation, psychological weakness, medical risks, and so forth.
In Europe it's a little different, especially with the new GDPR privacy law coming up. There what counts as 'person data' has just been expanded. However, much is still unclear.
So in short, this promise is a smokescreen that cleverly builds on a widely held misconception. Why sell the raw product. The market wants the refined product.
Welcome to the reputation economy, where every little bit of data you leave behind is used to rate you. And do realize:
- These scores and ratings will increasingly impact the chances you are given.
- They are not as fair as you think.
A useful FTC report:
https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/reports/data-brokers-call-transparency-accountability-report-federal-trade-commission-may-2014/140527databrokerreport.pdf
Verizon, AT&T, Comcast Say They Will Not Sell Customer Browsing Histories until all the fuss dies down
I've calculated my velocity with such exquisite precision that I have no idea where I am.
No, really. Really. They really won't sell your personal information.
They'll rent it out instead. I promise. Trust me. And believe me, I know about personal information. The best personal information. Beautiful classy personal information.
I'll see your senator, and I'll raise you two judges.