US legislation is about to pass a law that will allow Internet service providers to share user’s personal information with advertising agencies.
As per reports, the House of Representatives voted for a bill that will allow the internet service providers to share user’s personal information to third parties without their consent. The only thing that was stopping them was a law passed in the Obama’s era, but with this law out of the picture, there’s nothing holding them.
The repeal was strongly backed by major providers such as Verizon, AT&T and Comcast, who argued that ISPs were being subject to stricter privacy laws than companies like Google or Facebook.
The tech giants, including Verizon, AT&T, Comcast and others were all in favor of this law – it’s a no brainer really. They also argued that ISPs were being subject to stricter privacy laws than companies like Facebook and Google.
If it’s on the Internet, it’s not privacy.
According to Ajit Pai, the new head of FCC, the new law will level the online playing field.
The law will allow Internet providers to share personal data of its customers with marketers and third parties including browsing data, exact geo-location and much more without even needing their consent.
Internet service providers are extremely happy about this new law as it will certainly help them increase their revenue, but not everyone shares the same feelings. The online privacy advocates are furious with the new development.
BREAKING: House follows Senate and votes to gut #BroadbandPrivacy rules, allow ISPs to spy on you & sell your personal data to advertisers. pic.twitter.com/lAUkVHyJEw
— @[email protected] on Mastodon (@fightfortheftr) March 28, 2017
Evan Greer, campaign director from rights group Fight for the Future told BBC that:
“Today Congress proved once again that they care more about the wishes of the corporations that fund their campaigns than they do about the safety and security of their constituents. People from across the political spectrum are outraged, and every lawmaker who votes to take away our privacy will regret it come election day.”
Evan Greer is also planning to launch a billboard campaign to publicize the members who voted in favor of the law.
Whether the campaign will have an effect or not, remains to be seen but one thing is for sure, the new law could hurt the user’s privacy severely.
