“In other words, resolution 34 allows your ISP, such as Comcast, Time Warner, or AT&T to sell your Internet browsing history…”
Drain. The. Swamp. I will confess that I do not agree with President Trump on many things, but I wholeheartedly agree with draining the swamp. We need to reduce corporate and special interest influence on Washington D.C. President Trump can do so right now–today, even–by vetoing the recently passed Senate Joint Resolution 34 (H. Res. 230), which will allow internet service providers (ISPs) to sell a user’s history.
What does Senate Joint Resolution 34 do exactly? It rolls back the basic and fundamental regulations that the FCC has put in place to ensure your privacy while using the internet. Let’s look at the actual content of the FCC’s just repealed regulations (emphasis added):
(1) applies the customer privacy requirements of the Communications Act of 1934 to broadband Internet access service and other telecommunications services, (2) requires telecommunications carriers to inform customers about rights to opt in or opt out of the use or the sharing of their confidential information, (3) adopts data security and breach notification requirements, (4) prohibits broadband service offerings that are contingent on surrendering privacy rights, and (5) requires disclosures and affirmative consent when a broadband provider offers customers financial incentives in exchange for the provider’s right to use a customer’s confidential information.
In other words, resolution 34 allows your ISP, such as Comcast, Spectrum, or AT&T, to sell your internet browsing history. Essentially, your data is no longer your data, it’s Comcast’s data. Previously, ISPs had to ask for the right to use your data. Further, confidential information is no longer going to be confidential. It will be put on an auction block and sold to the highest bidders.
Worse yet, marketers will be able to deploy “undetectable” tools to snoop on you and your internet activities. In the past, it was just scammers and hackers who would try to deploy tools in order to hijack your information. If President Trump signs the repeal into law, your ISPs and advertisers will be able to get directly involved in the game. Think about that.
ISPs and marketers are the only parties that will benefit. Every elected member of the Senate has received sums, often in the six figures, from Internet Service Providers. Every member of the House, likewise, has also received money from ISPs, often in the five figure range. Every member who voted in support of the bill was Republican, though 15 Republicans did vote against it and have been among the most critical opponents.
Do Americans really want advertisers snooping around through our once-private internet history? It’s unlikely that consumers will benefit in any relevant way, while ISPs will be able to pocket ever more substantial profits. Thus, Congress has just voted against the fundamental rights and privacy of Americans for nothing more than cold, hard cash.
Now it is up to President Trump to veto the bill. He has proclaimed himself to be a man of the people. It’s time for him to prove that he is willing to champion our interests. He can do so by vetoing the FCC repeal and ensuring that our data and browsing history remains private.
Brian Brinker is an OpsLens Contributor and political consultant. Brinker has an M.A in Global Affairs from American University.
