ok can one of you geek-types explain

[callmeslick]

....the overall effect of the impending repeal of Internet Privacy law that passed Congress today.

[Spidey]

Privacy has become an illusion.

In my opinion, selling this kind of information should be illegal…period, no “asking” involved.

Maybe the postman could start selling info about what kind of magazines you get, or taxi drivers could start selling info about the places they take people…the internet is complete BS, with rules that can’t possibly apply anywhere else.

[Krom]

When you get something for free, odds are you are the one who is for sale.

See also: https://www.dslreports.com/shownews/The ... ons-139244

[Vander]

The FCC rule repealed hadn't gone into effect yet, but it did act as sort of a stop sign preventing ISP's from going forward.

Broadband ISP's were classified as common carriers for the purposes of net neutrality. The FTC cannot regulate common carriers as it regulates Google and Facebook. The FCC rule repealed was basically a rule the FTC would've enacted, and was drafted to be similar. I don't know all the wonk, but my guess is ISP's were classified as common carriers too long ago for it to be repealed via CRA. This FCC rule repeal is probably telegraphing a reclassification of ISP's to roll back some net neutrality regulations. If that happens, FTC rules will probably apply.

In the mean time, your ISP will now be able to do what Google and Facebook do, build a profile of you for advertising purposes. But since the FTC rules Google and Facebook have to follow don't apply to ISP's yet, your ISP could then sell that profile to third parties without your consent. Google and Facebook do it with tracking built into the webpages you visit (even if you don't have a Google or Facebook account) Your ISP will be able to do it by using their privileged position as the one actually delivering the data to and from you. You can somewhat thwart Google and Facebook tracking with things like Incognito/Private mode, and with ad/script blockers, but you won't be able to stop ISP tracking unless you use TOR or VPN.

[callmeslick]

thanks all

[Tunnelcat]

What's insane about this is the reason Trump gave for doing this, to level the playing field. What playing field? Google's and Facebook's playing field is in a whole different dimension. They don't have the same easy access to users that all the telecoms have. I don't see how giving an ISP what amounts to a bigger advantage over the likes of Google and Facebook is leveling the effing playing field. What utter BS. Welcome to Corporate Big Brother, all enabled by Trump's new government bought and paid for by the rich elites at the behest of their lobbyists.

[callmeslick]

some group started a GoFundMe around buying the info from every House and Senate member that voted for this. Funny thought, but with what effect, I don't know.

[Tunnelcat]

Trump's a damned hypocrite. He rails on about how his supposed privacy was violated by government intelligence agencies, but then he had no such concerns or qualms when he signed off on a bill allowing the American people's privacy to be sold to the highest bidders. Not that we had any privacy to begin with, it's just the principle of the whole thing. Prick.

[Vander]

“Moving forward, I want the American people to know that the FCC will work with the FTC to ensure that consumers’ online privacy is protected though a consistent and comprehensive framework,” Pai said. “The best way to achieve that result would be to return jurisdiction over broadband providers’ privacy practices to the FTC, with its decades of experience and expertise in this area.”

Yep, they're probably going to be reclassifying broadband providers, so a roll back of net neutrality is coming. Sweet. Comcast will get to sell you internet access, and then turn around and act as a gate keeper seeking tolls from content providers. We'll also get the privilege of having our ISP harvest our internet communications to transform into advertising giants.

Comcast will be a content provider and a content transporter, and we're going to allow them to seek rent from other content providers to transport content to people already paying Comcast.

There was a time when monopolies were bad, right? Am I just misremembering things?

[Tunnelcat]

Payback, unless Congress creates an exception for their own privacy. I wouldn't put it past them.

https://www.yahoo.com/celebrity/cards-a ... 38281.html

Oh, and conveniently, we can still obtain that privacy from our ISP's. But the catch is, there WILL be a price to pay.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/3186428/ ... ay-up.html

[callmeslick]

it's amazing how few folks catch on to the old 'if you can pay for it' caveat. Need privacy? Good health care? Access to a real education? Abortion? Substance abuse or other mental health treatment that is effective?? It can all be yours.......if you can pay for it. How long is that going to be acceptable to so many who NEVER will come CLOSE to being able to 'pay for it'??

[Grendel]

Tor.

[Ferno]

What's insane about this is the reason Trump gave for doing this, to level the playing field. What playing field? Google's and Facebook's playing field is in a whole different dimension. They don't have the same easy access to users that all the telecoms have. I don't see how giving an ISP what amounts to a bigger advantage over the likes of Google and Facebook is leveling the effing playing field. What utter BS. Welcome to Corporate Big Brother, all enabled by Trump's new government bought and paid for by the rich elites at the behest of their lobbyists.

As soon as Trump got elected, I just went "Well now it's blatant that business owns government"

Anyone remember waaay back before the election happened, I said "If trump gets elected, America will get what it deserves"?