GOP sells out Americans’ online privacy

In 2016, Comcast’s income statement shows it produced $56 billion in gross profits. Slackers. Rival Verizon posted $74.5 billion in gross profits, while AT&T came in at $86.9 billion.

It is unbelievable — not to mention despicable — that Republican members of Congress could look at those numbers and decide they need to sell out Americans’ online privacy so those internet providers can maximize their profits.

The Senate last week voted on party lines to gut the FCC’s internet privacy rules, and the House did the same on Tuesday. The legislation allows companies like Comcast, Verizon and AT&T to collect customer data, including their browsing history and personal and financial information, and sell it to anyone without customer consent.

President Donald Trump should veto this blatant assault on Americans’ basic privacy rights. It is the opposite of his inaugural address promise to return power to the people.

As former FCC Chair Tom Wheeler points out, federal rules have protected the privacy of Americans’ phone calls for decades. Extending those protections to the internet should be a given.

Republicans, including new FCC Chair Ajit Pai, argue that the new rules will level the playing field for internet providers competing for advertising dollars with companies like Google and Facebook.

There’s a fairer and better way to level that field: enact an online users Bill of Rights to protect the privacy of users of any company that collects personal information and sells it.

Instead, Republicans claim that if people use a company’s product, the information in effect belongs to the firm, which should be able to monitize it. Hogwash. Customers’ private data should be shared only with their knowledge and consent.

Protecting consumers’ privacy won’t stifle innovation. It will build trust in internet companies.

While online users can choose whether to use websites like Google or Facebook, about one-third of Americans have no choice for home broadband internet service. Consolidation in the market has reduced competition.

The FCC and Republicans’ next step is reported to be ending net neutrality. That will allow providers to slow or even block traffic from websites that can’t pay a premium fee, making it far more difficult for startups to get into the online marketplace. It will stifle competition, which Republicans used to value.

Using the internet and cell phones for commerce and personal business these days is increasingly hard to avoid. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., decries the lack of market choice and the risk of making privacy protections voluntary. His fear is that the GOP bill means the acronym ISP will soon stand for “Invading Subscriber Privacy.”

It will be a needless stain on the tech industry, and it will not easily be erased.