Your Internet History Can Now Be Sold To Advertisers, So Says The Senate

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Your Internet History Can Now Be Sold To Advertisers, So Says The Senate

Your internet habits are now products that can be sold without your permission.

Thanks US Government.

The US Senate has just voted to overturn the internet privacy rules that were established by the Federal Communications Commission last October. That means that your internet service provider (ISP) can now sell your browsing history to advertisers, and no they don't need your permission to do so.

The House will still need to vote the same way, and even if they do President Trump still has the opportunity to veto the decision. That means that if you don't want your history sold you can still contact congress and voice that opinion.

The bill was introduced by Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona, he said he wanted to protect the public from "overreaching Internet regulation." He pointed out that under the FCC rules, ISPs would have different rules to follow than large companies like Google and Facebook, who can share some aspects of your search history.

Jeff Flake
The Atlantic

Consumer groups are furious with the decision. They warn that ISPs have the ability to track all kinds of data, from when you wake up in the morning to how your kids get to school.

ISPs and advertising lobby groups naturally welcomed the decision.

"We appreciate (the) Senate's action to repeal unwarranted rules that deny consumers consistent privacy protection," one lobby group said.

The FCC rules would have required users to opt-in to consent forms allowing the sale of their browsing history.

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