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The FCC Eyes Broader Privacy Protections For Broadband Users

Back in 2008 Verizon argued that the broadband industry didn't need additional privacy protections (or opt in requirements) because "public shame" would keep the company honest. Seven years later and Verizon found itself at the center of a massive privacy scandal for injecting user-tracking headers into wireless customer traffic, a practice that existed for two years before security researchers noticed it, and almost another half a year before the company let consumers fully opt out.

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With the FCC recently ruling that ISPs are common carriers under Title II, the agency is beginning to explore whether it should use its newly-established authority to impose new consumer privacy protections. The agency this week stated it's holding a privacy roundtable on April 28 to begin examining a "harmonized privacy framework" across various telecom services:
quote:
The staff-led workshop will provide an opportunity for diverse stakeholders to explore a range of matters associated with the application of statutory privacy protections to broadband Internet access service. Participants will also have the opportunity to address whether and to what extent the Commission can apply a harmonized privacy framework across various services within the Commission’s jurisdiction.
The FCC notes it decided to forbear from requiring broadband companies adhere to rules requiring phone companies protect customer proprietary network information (CPNI), and wants to examine rules better suited for broadband and wireless networks. Of course sometime between now and then the broadband industry is expected to file a lawsuit challenging the FCC's common carrier classification, so any actual rules will likely be far off -- provided they materialize at all.
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FTCprivacy
@comcast.net

FTCprivacy

Anon

Thought FTC had authority over privacy issues

I thought the FTC had authority over privacy issues.
»www.ftc.gov/news-events/ ··· -privacy

The FTC has been the chief federal agency on privacy policy and enforcement since the1970s, when it began enforcing one of the first federal privacy laws – the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Since then, rapid changes in technology have raised new privacy challenges, but the FTC’s overall approach has been consistent: The agency uses law enforcement, policy initiatives, and consumer and business education to protect consumers’ personal information and ensure that they have the confidence to take advantage of the many benefits of the ever-changing marketplace.

Would it be too much to ask that Federal agencies hash out who has authority to regulate privacy and keep it in one agency?

Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02

1 edit

Karl Bode

News Guy

Re: Thought FTC had authority over privacy issues

The FCC claimed authority over broadband user privacy issues when they reclassified ISPs.

I assume part of the discussions are to focus on hashing out authority overlap, as some at the FTC aren't happy about it:

»www.nationaljournal.com/ ··· 20150309

FTCprivacy
@comcast.net

FTCprivacy

Anon

Re: Thought FTC had authority over privacy issues

said by Karl Bode:

The FCC claimed authority over broadband user privacy issues when they reclassified ISPs.

I assume part of the discussions are to focus on hashing out authority overlap, as some at the FTC aren't happy about it:

»www.nationaljournal.com/ ··· 20150309

After reading that link you provided, this looks like one more issue that is being tossed to Congress to resolve after the FCC declared power over broadband using Title II. It looks like the FTC will encourage Congress to clip the FCCs wings.

tshirt
Premium Member
join:2004-07-11
Snohomish, WA

tshirt

Premium Member

Re: Thought FTC had authority over privacy issues

Too much infighting/overlap of the regulatory agencies is rendering them worthless, and the throw it back to congress which created them because congress is so poorly equipped to handle day to day (or year to year) management.
Kearnstd
Space Elf
Premium Member
join:2002-01-22
Mullica Hill, NJ

Kearnstd to FTCprivacy

Premium Member

to FTCprivacy
And in the end we will get less privacy because the lobbyists will claim economic harm if they have to respect privacy.
Cobra11M
join:2010-12-23
Mineral Wells, TX

Cobra11M

Member

Re: Thought FTC had authority over privacy issues

and not only that but wont have a set of standard rules that the ISP will have to follow :\

dontrackme
@wayport.net

dontrackme

Anon

Google is the worst offender

Google has tracking on almost EVERY user experience on the Internet regardless of a Google site or not. Guess there are no concerns there eh? Oh yeah... Facebook is not far behind them.

anon
@myfairpoint.net

1 recommendation

anon

Anon

Re: Google is the worst offender

Google worst offender?

Oh, so is that why Facebook is under Privacy Watch for the next 20 years for violations of user privacy while Google isn't?
Cobra11M
join:2010-12-23
Mineral Wells, TX

Cobra11M

Member

Re: Google is the worst offender

Google, Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, heck I think the only one that hasnt so far is reddit
existenz
join:2014-02-12

existenz

Member

Re: Google is the worst offender

The FCC looks to be talking about ISP pipes, not services. ATT and VZ are ad tracking at the raw pipe layer. Google Fiber doesn't ad track at the raw pipe layer, it's done at the services layer - Gmail, Chrome, etc and GF TV is a service, but they do allow opt out. It needs to be opt in for pay services like TV.
smk11
join:2014-11-12

smk11 to dontrackme

Member

to dontrackme
said by dontrackme :

Google has tracking on almost EVERY user experience on the Internet regardless of a Google site or not. Guess there are no concerns there eh? Oh yeah... Facebook is not far behind them.

Facebook Social Plugins
Widgets, Social
Google Analytics
Analytics, Analytics
Google+ Platform
Widgets, Social
Reddit
Widgets, Social
Twitter Button
Widgets, Social

True, but blame the sites that allow it not google. The above is what is found on this page. Your information is being handed over to those.
existenz
join:2014-02-12

existenz

Member

Re: Google is the worst offender

And there is a browser extension (for most browsers) called Ghostery that allows to you block out all trackers including Google's, with detailed control.

spyvspy
@verizon.net

spyvspy to smk11

Anon

to smk11
said by smk11:

True, but blame the sites that allow it not google. The above is what is found on this page. Your information is being handed over to those.

Nice of you to apologize for Google, but they have actually monopolized the market on all Internet advertising / analytics. Few run sites these days without giving Google/Doubleclick user information.
Kearnstd
Space Elf
Premium Member
join:2002-01-22
Mullica Hill, NJ

Kearnstd

Premium Member

Re: Google is the worst offender

Which means its still the fault of other sites, Google is not a monopoly they earned their place in being this big. After all 15yrs ago everybody thought the player in this position was going to be Yahoo.
WhatNow
Premium Member
join:2009-05-06
Charlotte, NC

WhatNow to dontrackme

Premium Member

to dontrackme
Use Firefox with the NoScript extention and you will see how many sites use google-analytics . com or other google javascripts. Including this site. I also use BetterPrivacy to get rid of the Flash LSO Local Shared Objects super cookies every time I shut down Firefox. They may track me for the session but I am new every time I reload Firefox. On Firefox you can use the Privacy Window for more privacy.

tshirt
Premium Member
join:2004-07-11
Snohomish, WA

tshirt to dontrackme

Premium Member

to dontrackme
And someday they may have to pay
"Google fails to dismiss privacy lawsuit over Google Wallet"
»www.reuters.com/article/ ··· 20150402