More than 50 US industry and consumer advocate organisations have urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to introduce strict rules to protect the privacy of broadband users as soon as possible. They advocate rules prohibiting broadband providers from sharing subscribers’ personal data without their consent or for purposes other than providing internet services.
More than 50 US industry and consumer advocate organisations have urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to introduce strict rules to protect the privacy of broadband users as soon as possible.
In a letter to FCC chairman Tom Wheeler, the group said that in light of the commission’s recently signed memorandum of understanding on consumer protection with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), it is well placed to write rules focused on broadband providers.
“We therefore strongly urge the FCC to move forward as quickly as possible on a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposing strong rules to protect consumers from having their personal data collected and shared by their broadband provider without affirmative consent, or for purposes other than providing broadband internet access service,” said the group, which includes the American Civil Liberties Union, Consumer Federation of America, National Association of Consumer Advocates and Public Citizen.
They argued that providers should also be required to disclose data collection practices to subscribers and allow them to find out who their data is being shown to.
They cited FTC commissioner Julie Brill’s comment in a recent speech that the FCC’s reclassification of broadband as a Title II common carrier service makes it “a brawnier cop on the beat on privacy issues”.
They concluded by saying that they look forward to working with the FCC to modernise existing rules.
