Internet Insider: Privacy concerns aplenty as the U.S. Congress lets ISPs sell their customers' browsing history
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- Published on Friday, 31 March 2017 09:15
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INTERNET INSIDER
March 31, 2017
... Bad news: On Tuesday, the U.S. Congress voted to reverse important FCC privacy protections. The vote effectively gives the green light to Internet providers to sell their customers’ browsing history, along with other sensitive information, to the highest bidder.
Since the decision, searches for virtual private networks (VPNs) have skyrocketed — using a VPN is a great way to help safeguard your online activities from being sold to advertisers. And already, states like Alaska and Illinois have decided they won’t follow Congress's lead. And all this while a new lawsuit has just been filed by a legal organization at Columbia University, demanding greater transparency over cellphone confiscation at the border.
We need to also remember how these privacy setbacks harm the most vulnerable -- Islamic communities, folks of colour, human rights defenders and creative/free thinkers… and low-income families, who, thanks to a recent FCC decision, will no longer see expansions on broadband subsidies. This is a fight with some dirty punches being thrown. For example, Evan Greer, the tireless campaigns director over at Fight for the Future, has a must-read stream on Twitter explaining just how Congress’s decision will disproportionately impact LGBTQ people — check it out right here!
Last but far from least, it is with a bittersweet heart that I let you know that this will be our last edition of the Internet Insider, as we shift focus to our daily output on our website and social media. However, we have some great ways for you to keep in touch with all the latest:
- Stay up to date with digital policy stories thanks to our amazing volunteer blogger, Andrew Currie, and his Daily Digital Digest, posted everyday on our website and shared on Twitter at #DailyDigitalDigest. Stay tuned also for a blog from Andrew on his recommendations for top sources to follow!
- Join the nearly 120,000 people engaged in discussing the latest digital rights news on our always-lively Facebook feed
- Keep in touch with us on Twitter at @OpenMediaOrg, where our social media maestro Marie shares the latest key developments each and every weekday
Thanks for being a part of the Internet Insider, Paov. I’ll miss connecting with you here… but look forward to more and further connection, soon.
Ever onwards,
Aleks Besan
On behalf of the OpenMedia Team
March 29: r60
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