While many Americans gladly broadcast their preferences, say, for movies, or taste in wine, on assorted social media sites, they do so with their eyes open. They realize that people other than “friends,” “connections” or “followers” may in fact view their material and personal choices. Most of those same people, though, likely still enjoy their privacy when they are searching or shopping via the internet, or sending along sensitive health information.
Earlier this week, in a largely party-line vote, the Republican-led House of Representatives voted to roll back Obama-era rules that looked to preserve a level of privacy by preventing internet service providers such as Comcast and Verizon from selling browsing information without the users’ consent.
Though President Donald Trump is widely expected to sign the legislation, which was earlier approved by the Senate, we urge him to reject it. Even in a capitalistic society, everything doesn’t need to be about the free market, especially when it relates to individual privacy.
While we understand that when it comes to internet controls, the free market and personal privacy and freedoms are a blurred line, these very basic FCC rules that guard citizens’ most treasured private business should remain in place.
Efforts to roll them back should be met with a swift, stern veto.
Under rules put in place last year by the Federal Communications Commission, then led by Democrat Tom Wheeler, ISPs would be required to obtain “opt-in” consent from consumers to use and share such information as health records, financial information, children’s information, Web browsing and app usage histories, as well as Social Security numbers. ISPs could not refuse service to customers who would not opt-in.
“The more our economy and our lives move online, the more information about us goes over our (ISP) – and the more consumers want to know how to protect their information in the digital age,” Wheeler said at the time the rules were enacted. Proponents of the rules say they are vital because, more and more, consumers face fewer and fewer choices of internet service providers.
Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., though, who helped fast-track the rollback under the Congressional Review Act, called the Obama-era policies “bad regulation” that placed ISPs at a disadvantage to other internet companies, and that the rules stifled innovation.
Wheeler countered the rules were meant as a preventative measure to guard privacy in the age of advancing technology, including the so-called Internet of Things, a growing variety of Net-connected devices including appliances and wearables.
Also at issue in the broadband privacy dispute is a turf battle that’s been brewing for years between the FCC and the Federal Trade Commission, and their allies. The FTC enforces privacy policies created by web companies such as Facebook and Google. If the privacy rules rollback happens, the FCC would be prohibited from proposing new similar privacy regulations.
Ryan Calo, a law professor at the University of Washington, told USA Today that if the rules were thrown out, it would create a gap in regard to privacy regulations. “Presumably, the FTC could enter that gap, but it would require further action.”
Clearly, rolling back the FCC’s broadband privacy rules approved last October would be a significant blow to consumer privacy, and take away peace of mind for millions of Americans. The president should reject it outright.
