House Sends Bill To Trump Blocking Online Privacy Regulation

This week, amidst a sea of other shocking and life-altering bills, political moves, executive orders, and scandals, both the House and Senate voted on and passed a law which granted Internet Service Providers the ability to buy and sell internet users’ browsing data to the highest bidder.

The repeal of the FCC-approved rules had President Trump’s support, and the latest vote means that all manner of personal information is now able to be sold for marketing and advertising without individuals’ consent. However, according to critics, the rule would have adversely impacted innovation.

The House voted 215-205 to reject the rule.

Your online personal information could be more at risk than ever.

Internet companies like Google don’t have to ask users’ permission before tracking what sites they visit.

In the absence of strong privacy rules, people will have to rely on encryption to prevent service providers from tracking them. “In particular, the rule requires ISPs to obtain affirmative “opt-in” consent from consumers to use and share certain information, including app usage and web browsing history”.

So now, no matter which portal you use, your internet search history along with information on whom you email will be fair game to be sold to companies that will then use that information to create targeted advertisements. For now, phone and cable companies remain subject to federal law that imposes on broadband providers a “duty to protect the confidentiality” of customer information and restricts them from using some customer data without “approval”. “In reality, the FCC’s rules arbitrarily treat ISP’s differently”, he said. The rules, which hadn’t yet been enacted, would have required internet service providers, like Verizon or Comcast, to get your permission before collecting and sharing your data. “They voted to take away the privacy rights of hundreds of millions of Americans just so a few giant companies could pad their already considerable profits”.

“Moving forward, I want the American people to know that the FCC will work with the Federal Trade Commission to ensure that consumers’ online privacy is protected”, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said in a statement. Mike Doyle (D-Pa.) and Mike Capuano (D-Mass.) have launched a petition on Whitehouse.gov calling on the president to veto S.J. Res. 34, the Congressional Review Act resolution that that repealed the FCC’s broadband privacy rules.