Congress’ action sells out online privacy rights
Republicans claim that by using a company’s product, the information in effect belongs to the firm, and they should be given the freedom to monetize that information at their discretion. Hogwash.
In 2016, Comcast’s income statement shows it produced $56 billion in gross profits.
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 in order for those Internet providers to maximize their profits.
The Senate voted on party lines to gut the FCC’s Internet privacy rules, and the House did the same a week ago.
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 at will without customer consent.
President Trump should veto this blatant assault on Americans’ basic privacy rights.
Signing it into law will make a mockery of his inaugural address promise to return power to the people.
However, The White House announced last Thursday that the president supports the action and plans to sign the bill.
This is not a new debate. As former FCC chair Tom Wheeler points out, federal rules have protected the privacy of Americans’ phone calls for decades.
Extending those same 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 online companies like Google and Facebook.
If Pai and GOP members of Congress had those concerns, they should be promoting an online users Bill of Rights that would further protect the privacy rights of customers using Google, Facebook or any company that collects users’ personal information and sells it to for profit.
Instead, Republicans claim that by using a company’s product, the information in effect belongs to the firm, and they should be given the freedom to monetize that information at their discretion. Hogwash. Customers’ private data should only be shared with their knowledge and consent.
Rather than stifling innovation, protecting consumers’ privacy will build trust in the Internet and the companies that do business with users.
The president needs to understand that while online users can choose whether to use web sites like Google or Facebook, about onethird of Americans have no choice for home broadband Internet service.
Republicans touting the advancement of the free market system know that consolidation in the market has reduced competition.
It’s a given that startups and entrepreneurs will have an even bigger challenge getting into the online marketplace if the FCC and Republicans’ next step is to end net neutrality, which will allow providers to slow or even block traffic from web sites unless they pay a premium fee.
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 is a needless stain on the tech industry that will not easily be erased.