US Senate Votes to Kill Broadband Privacy Rules

[CrAKeN]

 

Senator don't really care about your Internet privacy

 

Say "goodbye" to your privacy as the US Senate voted on Thursday to make it easier for broadband providers to sell private information about their users to marketers. 

 

The decision was a highly expected one, as lawmakers decided whether to keep or to dump privacy rules adopted by the previous Federal Communications Commission. Now, with a new leadership that is opposed to mostly everything the previous FCC did, there is an expectation for many substantial changes.

 

The joint resolution from senator Jeff Flake that uses the Congressional Review Act to prevent privacy rules passed by the FCC last year from taking effect was voted down 50 to 48.

 

What's more, and maybe even worse, is that the resolution would prevent the FCC from ever taking similar steps to protect consumers in the future. Therefore, even if a different FCC chief is set in place, one that seeks to protect Internet users, nothing could be done.

 

The measure still needs to go through a vote in the House of Representatives, so, in theory, there's still some hope.

 

More protection for Internet users

The rules were adopted back in October and would require broadband providers to explicitly ask consumers' permission before sharing their sensitive information, such as browsing history, app usage or even location with third parties, such as advertisers. Up until now, the rules said that the companies should just offer consumers the opportunity to opt-out of such data sharing, something that almost never happens because people either don't know or don't have the time to search for ways to opt out.

 

"Today, 50 members of the U.S. Senate voted to sell their constituents most personal information to the highest bidder. They used a blatantly undemocratic Congressional procedure to gut basic protections that prevent Internet Service Providers like Comcast and Verizon from selling their customers personal information to marketers without their permission," said Evan Greer, campaign director for digital rights group Fight for the Future.

 

Greer goes on to point out that many of these lawmakers receive large campaign contributions from the industry groups who lobbied for this move.

 

"The controversial measure passed by a narrow margin. This is evidence that many members of Congress are still scared of angering the Internet. And they should be. Internet users are increasingly aware of how legislation and FCC rules impact our basic rights, and we are prepared to fight to defend them," Greer adds.

 

Source

[jabrwky]

Best gov't money can buy. 

  

[steven36]

41 minutes ago, jabrwky said:

Best gov't money can buy. 

  

it;s Over blown things  just want change.is all I never trusted my ISP no way that's one reason why i use a vpn 

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The rules were adopted back in October and would require broadband providers to explicitly ask consumers' permission before sharing their sensitive information

How do you take away some privacy you never had to began with? They just stopped Net neutrality from ever happening. It would of been different  if it were a law since the 90s or something but it never even took effect.

[steven36]

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The Senate passed a resolution Thursday to eliminate the Federal Communications Commission's broadband privacy rules that were finalized in the final months of the Obama administration.

Republican leaders used the Congressional Review Act, which allows Congress to overturn recent agency regulations with a simple majority vote, to undo the FCC privacy rules imposed on service providers. The Senate passed the resolution in a 50-48 vote.

 

The Senate action follows House passage of the same resolution, and sends the measure to President Trump's desk for his signature.

 

 

The privacy rules require Internet service providers, like Comcast and Verizon, to obtain permission from consumers before sharing browser history and other user information.

 

But industry critics have long argued that the regulations are unfair because online companies such as Google and Facebook, which also have access to a mountain of user data, are not held to the same requirements.

 

Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., who authored the resolution to overturn the rule, has said the Obama-era rules are "economically harmful" resulting from the FCC's overreach.

 

 

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/senate-votes-to-overturn-obamas-fcc-privacy-rules/article/2618241

In order for such a law the be fair Google , Microsoft and Facebook  should not be able to collect data ether  . If you want extra privacy you have to pay for it even plaaces like Switzerland witch have better privacy laws than the USA  do  there ISP is required by government to harvest you're data but you have a option of buying a vpn 

 

Switzerland passes severe new surveillance laws

https://www.bestvpn.com/blog/30241/switzerland-passes-severe-new-surveillance-laws/

Switzerland’s new surveillance law

https://blog.lukaszolejnik.com/switzerlands-new-surveillance-law/

Its legal to download movies and music there though and vpns are not required to give data over .

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In November 2011 the Swiss government ruled that downloading unlicensed copies of films, music and video games for personal use will remain legal, because it is not detrimental to copyright owners

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_censorship_in_Switzerland

One isp there is selling vpns to there costumers to  even to get around it 

 

The thing the they didn't tell you  these rules would of not done no good no way they would of  just made you agree too let them do it  it  by  sneaking it in there TOSS  when you sign into you're modem  they would reset the internet and made you agree to it . And the Republicans just done this  because they want too undo anything Obama done lol.

 

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I applaud the sentiment, but what came forth from the commission will do little to nothing to advance privacy. Yes, ISPs must now get explicit permission from consumers to release their data, but nowhere is there a prohibition on such permission being hidden in a 29-page T&C form that requires a one-click acceptance to begin the ISP service.

 

In short, it’s either “accept this agreement” or get ISP service elsewhere — which will be hard to do if every major ISP insists on similar language. If the FCC wanted to truly protect privacy, it would have prohibited ISPs from including this opt-in as part of the agreement to provide services — it should have given consumers the right to reject such data sharing and still retain the right to have broadband service. Alas, that didn’t happen.

 

The FCC’s new privacy rules are toothless

http://www.computerworld.com/article/3136578/data-privacy/the-fcc-s-new-privacy-rules-are-toothless.html

Back in the 70s and 80s the FCC use too fine people up for talking on  CBs and stuff they can't be trusted with privacy noways..

http://cbradiomagazine.com/Feb%202007/Breaking%20the%20rules.htm

They controlled everyone back before we used the internet  the CB was the prehistoric internet before everyone had PCs and cell phones .  

[humble3d]

CONFIRMED:  LEADERS ARE EQUINE POSTERIORS

 

Row over US ISP customer data sales

US politicians have voted to remove rules that demanded ISPs got permission from customers before selling their browsing histories.

The US Senate voted by a narrow majority to repeal the rules that were first approved in October 2016.

Politicians who called for the rules to be dropped said they were "harmful".

The decision was called a "crushing loss" for privacy by digital rights group the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF).

'Gold mine'

The rules were drawn up when the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) was overseen by a broadly democratic leadership.

The requirements, which also covered the ways ISPs stopped data being stolen, were due to come into force by December 2017.

The Trump presidency led to changes at the top of the FCC and prompted scrutiny of some of its decisions - including the broadband privacy provisions.

Members of the US Senate who introduced the measure to overturn the FCC rules said they were "overreaching" and could "stifle" economic growth.

ISPs and advertising groups had lobbied for the rules to be dropped.

Current FCC chairman Ajit Pai, who was appointed by President Trump, said the rules threatened to confuse consumers as they were different to those imposed on web firms such as Google and Facebook.

Following the decision by the Senate, the proposal now passes to the House of Representatives which has an overwhelming Republican majority and is likely to be approved.

If the rules are dropped, US ISPs would be allowed to gather data on customers, their browsing histories, viewing habits, location and app usage.

 This package of data can then be sold to advertisers or marketing firms without letting customers know who is getting it or how it was gathered.

Democrat Senator Bill Nelson, who wanted the rules to be approved, said the repeal of the rules would let ISPs amass a "gold mine" of data.

"They want to collect and use this information without providing transparency or being held accountable," Mr Nelson told news site Ars Technica.

The EFF urged Americans to contact their representatives to ask them to "kill" the proposal in the House.

ISPs had "incredible access" to what people did online, it said.

"They shouldn't be able to profit off of the information about what you search for, read about, purchase, and more without your consent," it added.

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-39365308

 

[steven36]

99%  of privacy geeks are so naive they don't know that the ISP privacy laws were supposed to take effect  tell later this year. Most people think the rules were already in place. The liberal mainstream media have always been Anti Republican  and they are spreading fake news about  privacy giving people delusions of a privacy that  never existed 

 

ISPs  already sell  you're data  and they would of kept doing it because it was a  loophole in the FCC's plan that allowed terms of service agreements and  in some places you dont have a choice of what internet you use and all of them would ended up adopting this in there TOSS so they could not be sued .

 

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ISPs such as Comcast, Time Warner Cable, AT&T and Verizon sell access to the pipes you need to surf the Web. In turn, they use data from your online escapades to target advertising at you. Your Internet provider, for example, can use info about the video sites you frequent to offer you a higher-tiered broadband plan. It can also serve hoverboard ads to 20-something males who live in L.A, were it so inclined.

 

Telecoms have only recently started building data services around their core businesses and do not break those out in filings. But revenue from selling targeted ads to and data from Internet users could reach $5 billion this year, according to the research firm 451 Research. That revenue could rise to $20.5 billion by 2020. 451 Research estimates the $5 billion in revenue this year amounts to just 15 percent of potential demand, based on surveys of current data buyers and estimates of what they spend.

For now, internet companies are gobbling up or partnering with data and analytics companies to form their own in-house ad machines before they miss the boat.

 

Potential Targeted-Ad Data Market  $33 Billion

 

https://www.bloomberg.com/gadfly/articles/2016-04-07/fcc-rules-could-hurt-isp-data-mining

You should never trust a Government agency with you're privacy and people are delusional  if they do. All the government does is protect it's own interest  be it Democratic  or  Republican to protect the nation from Attack so they and there rich families and friends can live fat on the hog the rest of there life . they could care less about you're privacy , the difference is  liberal's they try too give us  delusions of privacy,  a false sense  , smoke and mirrors and the Republicans dont hide the fact they dont care but at lest they dont let Government agencies  be in control like Uncle Charlie AKA the FCC .  

[JeffDunhill]

Bring your VPN's and Tors out people cause apparently that's the only way out of this!

[steven36]

47 minutes ago, JeffDunhill said:

Bring your VPN's and Tors out people cause apparently that's the only way out of this!

Out of what? if  you go sign into Gmail  , Microsoft , Facebook etc. ever with you're real IP and you use a VPN or TOR with all these companies all ready sells you're data and knows who you are. Privacy is  not so easy too achieve as this, you have too do loads of footwork  for VPN and Tor too even be effective .And example  Verizon owns AOL  and are buying Yahoo say if you have a email  or use one of  there services signed in like Yahoo Messenger  they would know who you was even if you was to use VPN  because they are you're ISP..

 

Most people sold there privacy away to free services years ago and don't even know it.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/generation-like/

 Now paid services like ISP and Microsoft  are getting on the gravy train .

 

I been using a VPN since 2011 , but it's never too late if you're willing too do the foot work. I stop using Google ,Yahoo , Facebook , Microsoft signed in around that time too any emails I have today I've only used with a vpn  are you willing to give up a lot of so called  free shit for privacy?  I'm here to tell you that's what it takes ,because privacy is not free to even have a good vpn it cost and it costs a lot time and effort  changing you're lifestyle to adjust too it. lol.Most US services now want a phone number to even make new accounts if you not had one for years . But this only protects you at home, if you go too work and get online you have too use what they make you still are vulnerable to data harvesting.

[Akaneharuka]

This law look like police can enter and search your house without any warrant. 

[steven36]

52 minutes ago, Akaneharuka said:

This law look like police can enter and search your house without any warrant. 

It's not a  law no way  its a vote to too stop a law from going into effect that never was a law to began with , therefore nothing changes.  You're ISP dont have to sell you're data unless they want too and some already do  and they could sell you a plain were they dont if they chose too ..But a vpn would be cheaper lol..  The police need a warrant but do  you know how easy it is for them to get  a warrant ? If you break the law and they know you did or they think you did ,  they are going too get this info anyways ,or at lest try , They already keep a record of you're life history  if you been convicted of anything  even if it's not serious . Still it has too be voted on one more time .

 

In the USA  not all ISP are the same some are better than others , when they use to send out warnings for downloading from P2P witch they all stop doing this just this year only the big ISP that were involved with Hollywood agreed to sent out warnings . These are the same the ones selling peoples data .

 

See Obama  signed a lot of bills in his last few months  that were fixing to go into law and the Republicans are stopping most of them from ever going  into effect. And trying to change the ones that are already law  that he signed in the last 8 years he was in there.

[SnakeMasteR]

In regard to VPN, proxies or crypto, they can tell you whatever they want they would never do but they can do whatever they want without telling you.

 

TL:DR : Faggets 

[steven36]

Sounds like a excuse to not give up free things that collect you're data too me , I tell you what even though USA isp are collecting data already , its made many in the USA take notice and everyone should buy stock in VPNs because they are going be many buying them . I been using a VPN since 2011 24/7 Ive tired 3 or 4 well respected vpn that the privacy and p2p community suggest  I never had no trouble it's like connecting to another ISP were  you're real ISP cant see what you're doing .

 

They have some vpn providers you can't trust there's always a few bad apples out of every bushel so you need  too shop around and read real user experiences and reviews. But  anyone who slams something that 3 large communities  that include  Privacy , P2P and Businesses that had great results with VPNs is just making excuses because they dont use one or is just trolling .