Wednesday, March 29th 2017
US House of Representatives Confirms Senate's Privacy Stance on ISPs
Only yesterday, the United States' House of Representatives carried the US Senate's joint resolution to eliminate broadband privacy rules. These rules, which are now seemingly on their way to political oblivion, would have required ISPs to get consumers' explicit consent before selling or sharing Web browsing data and other private information with advertisers and other companies. Much like last week's Senate joint resolution, the House's voting fell mainly along partisan lines (215 for, 205 against, with 15 Republican and 190 Democratic representatives voting against the repeal) to scrap the proposed FCC rules.
President Trump's desk (and the President himself) are now all that stand before the ISP's ability to collect geo-location data, financial and health information, children's information, Social Security numbers, Web browsing history, app usage history, and the content of communications - information that gives the most unthinkable leeway in understanding your daily habits. However, President Trump's administration have issued a statement whereas they "strongly support House passage of S.J.Res. 34, which would nullify the Federal Communications Commission's final rule titled "Protecting the Privacy of Customers of Broadband and Other Telecommunication Services".
The Electronic Frontier Foundation has already issued a statement to today's vote with a statement that "If the bill is signed into law, companies like Cox, Comcast, Time Warner, AT&T, and Verizon will have free rein to hijack your searches, sell your data, and hammer you with unwanted advertisements. Worst yet, consumers will now have to pay a privacy tax by relying on VPNs to safeguard their information."
Ajit Pai, the current FCC Chairman, is a staunch supporter of rolling back the rules, claiming that "the FCC will work with the FTC to ensure that consumers' online privacy is protected through a consistent and comprehensive framework."
Those against the FCC ruling argue that it would have placed an unfair burden on ISPs while leaving sites like Google and Facebook free to collect and sell user data. What these supporters don't seem to consider, however, is how different the nature of Facebook or Google is compared to an ISP: you post what you want, when you want, if you want, and you even only use the service and inform it of your usage habits if you choose to do so. You can also choose to make your searches on Bing, or any other search engine. However, you can never pull the plug on your ISP's data collection of your habits and doings on the Internet. And with some customers only having access to one or two ISPs at any given time will also stand in the way of competition through reinforced privacy protection. If Comcast is the only ISP in your area, well, you can always not sign for the service if you don't want your information to be collected. Though you will end up sans internet access.
Unless, of course, you invest on a paid VPN - that is, if you don't already.
Sources:
Engadget, Whitehouse.gov.pt, TechCrunch, Forbes, The Verge
President Trump's desk (and the President himself) are now all that stand before the ISP's ability to collect geo-location data, financial and health information, children's information, Social Security numbers, Web browsing history, app usage history, and the content of communications - information that gives the most unthinkable leeway in understanding your daily habits. However, President Trump's administration have issued a statement whereas they "strongly support House passage of S.J.Res. 34, which would nullify the Federal Communications Commission's final rule titled "Protecting the Privacy of Customers of Broadband and Other Telecommunication Services".
Ajit Pai, the current FCC Chairman, is a staunch supporter of rolling back the rules, claiming that "the FCC will work with the FTC to ensure that consumers' online privacy is protected through a consistent and comprehensive framework."
Those against the FCC ruling argue that it would have placed an unfair burden on ISPs while leaving sites like Google and Facebook free to collect and sell user data. What these supporters don't seem to consider, however, is how different the nature of Facebook or Google is compared to an ISP: you post what you want, when you want, if you want, and you even only use the service and inform it of your usage habits if you choose to do so. You can also choose to make your searches on Bing, or any other search engine. However, you can never pull the plug on your ISP's data collection of your habits and doings on the Internet. And with some customers only having access to one or two ISPs at any given time will also stand in the way of competition through reinforced privacy protection. If Comcast is the only ISP in your area, well, you can always not sign for the service if you don't want your information to be collected. Though you will end up sans internet access.
Unless, of course, you invest on a paid VPN - that is, if you don't already.
93 Comments on US House of Representatives Confirms Senate's Privacy Stance on ISPs
The problem lies with idiots that continue to say "they have nothing to hide", they dont care about anyone but themselves because they dont see or dont care what it means to others so those idiots dont object to anything until it comes to losing money. These are the people that sit on the sidelines and wait for something to happen then jump on the bandwagon (like democrats...:p). It was several years before anyone said, or did, anything about companies doubleclick.com/net collecting names, addresses, phones numbers and credit card information. If that didnt happen, think where online shopping would be today.
The results of our 30+ year long fight for digital privacy resulted in programs and browser add-ons to block tracking cookies and spyware, because if the advertising cant collect information, they cant use it. This statue denied ISP's from profiting on the selling of personal information, now they can. The hoo-haa in this thread is that its a political article that doesnt belong on TPU, I say it matters to me, and does belong here because it affects future choices in what I would like to have for software in an attempt to block whatever information goes out of my pc. I would prefer my ISP not sell my information but there is nothing I can do with data I have no control over on their servers.
And everyone knows Xfinity/comcast are greedy bastards so when they sell data, you can be sure we wont see any benefits from that, not even a price reduction of internet access.
Nope not a new issue.
The main difference between now and before btw is that before they could not sell that data, not legally anyway, now they can. What it will actually mean practically is still to be seen.
Meanwhile, the EU recently found Swedens data storage laws unlawful and my ISP immedietly purged their data, and they provide a free VPN for their customers.
For so long have the "Privacy Modes" "Do not Tracks" "Cookie blocks" been placebo effects for privacy. It just translates to: "I want to see new ads every time I load a web page and spend more time searching for what I want."
And VPNs aren't the savior many think. You may send HTTP(s) requests from another place, but your habits/behaviours are the same...and AI knows that ;)
Again people worrying about ISP making a dime off of your porn habits are worried about the wrong s#!t. As a matter of fact you are naïve as hell. TOR, VPN really? That's like rolling up a window in a car. They still see you plain as day. Welcome to the Global Economy people. I bet you wish you had a second amendment now don't ya? Because one day soon THEY ARE going to NWO our asses. By all means however keep towing that propaganda line giving the people the illusion of freedom. TPU threads like this are EXACTLY what they want. Just keep ignoring the man behind the curtain and point your rage elsewhere.
THIS is why crap like this needs to stay off of TPU. Take this junk to GN.
By not talking about these absurd events, ignorance that happened in the past when it mattered most is never going to wake up to a state in which required action can happen. It is a simple concept.
In other words, just because something is fucked up, you shouldn't just say, "oh well, we are already screwed now" and be on about your life accepting every incrementing strike to your rights and privacy.
Thank you Raevenlord. I'll happily read articles about technology and indirect news about technology.
1) Can you trust them? Do you know the people who run the service, know whether they are in someone else's pocket, or know if they aren't already sharing all their traffic information confidentially to the government and/or other third parties?
2) The VPN funnels your traffic through one point which makes is much easier to monitor and compile. At least without a VPN, its a little harder to find all your actions scattered around the net.
3) I have nothing to hide. I don't want someone to steal my money or my identity, but otherwise there isn't much there for me to be concerned about.
The problem I have with the ISPs crying that it isn't fair that Facebook and Google get to make a bunch of money off of targeted advertising but the ISPs weren't allowed to:
1) The standard consumer doesn't pay Facebook or Google directly to use their service. Their advertising is what supports their business.
2) Since you are paying your ISP for your internet connection, you should be in control of that service. If the ISP is going to sell your information, the ISP should reimburse you (or provide the internet connection for free like in item 1).
3) Since ISPs have such a huge monopoly, we don't really have a choice. Our only choice is to have internet or not have internet. If we had a choice to purchase from companies which don't sell our data, then the issue would work itself out naturally through capitalism. Since we instead have an ISP monopoly, we are screwed.
4) Pitchforks and torches.
The problem I have with ISPs selling my data:
1) I would have no problem with it as long as it doesn't increase my spam mail, spam email, or phone calls in any way AND as long as they can guarantee that my identity and financial information will never be exploited or leaked in any way -- on purpose or by accident -- as a result.
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Now that congress removed a regulation (not a law) it sets even more precedence that there is no legal protection to privacy in this regard and judges are now more so forced to rule in the ISPs favor (due to a false notion of judicial deference created by the Supreme Court). Also laws/regulations were past in this too. I think EFF covered this. I remember reading somewhere the only requirement is reasonable security measure, which essentially means nothing. They only have to prove they "tried" protecting your data and privacy so you are pretty much completely out of luck suing them.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regulatory_offencetownhall.com/tipsheet/mattvespa/2015/06/06/how-many-federal-laws-are-there-again-n2009184
Also plenty of people get falsely arrested all the time for Rape, drug war, child porn, and plenty of other crimes that they never committed. (or get shot/murdered for following orders or doing nothing illegal) If someone wants to charge you with a crime they can. You will break the law daily if not at least once....really daily. Also they can just falsify everything.
reason.com/archives/2016/07/18/faulty-tests-create-fake-drug-crimes
www.indystar.com/story/news/2017/03/28/man-convicted-after-prosecutors-withheld-evidence-then-happened-again/99724064/
www.orlandosentinel.com/news/breaking-news/os-cop-mistook-doughnut-glaze-for-meth-20160727-story.html
www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/01/14/new-mexico-man-given-forced-colonoscopy-by-cops-wins-16-million-settlement
FYI Marines in war zones can't do this and would be court martialed and thrown in the brig then would get double jeopardy and charged in civilian courts.
You need to open your eyes and actually educate yourself. Prosecutors and cops falsify records all the time to charge people.
Hell you don't even need to do anything. All it takes is 1 little troll under 18 to send you a picture in a bra and instantly you face 350 years in prison.
reason.com/blog/2017/02/14/teen-girl-sends-teen-boy-5-pix-of-self-i/
Another example is googling. You google dragonball. 100% guarantee you that something will pop up that is criminal to possess. I demonstrated this on hardforum and was able to find the cached image and showed it was in recuva too. This was a discussion about the importance of FDE encryption and wiping free space and how thats not possible on SSDs due to spare space can't easily be wiped.
This is now cashed on your HDD and your ISP, NSA, and numerous other government organizations know you have it. You are now a federal criminal according to the laws and past examples of people getting rail roaded.
I could go on but i made my point. Every single person who has ever used the internet especially googling even innocent things is 100% a criminal.
I could write 50 books on how screwed our system is and how screwed you are if they come after you.....nothing to hide...idiot.
EDIT: There is so much more too. The lack of accountability is system wide. I.E. cops can shot their partner blame you, murder you, cover it up, and than video shows him shooting partner and then murdering you and DA goes...well it is still justified.
photographyisnotacrime.com/2015/12/19/los-angeles-deputy-shoots-partner-blames-suspect-both-kill-suspect-in-retaliation/
Aliexpress....click it. Become a violent sex offended under or fucked up laws. I guess i am a violent sex offender according to the case above. Aliexpress is also a mass distributed of child porn too i guess...just like the FBI (FBI actually distributes real child porn)
www.aliexpress.com/w/wholesale-teenage-bras.html
I have never seen such a collection of hysterical tinfoil-hat wearing bullshit in one place.
As someone deep on the inside, your numerous claims about federal law enforcement are downright false and insulting. I can also tell you that all Internet illegal porn investigations are so thorough, and the forensics so thorough, that unless they are 100% sure, people are not getting busted for child porn. So claims about bra pictures are just so much BS and point to people who are hiding real guilt.
@Raevenlord @btarunr @W1zzard THIS^ is why we don't do political stuff on TPU. Such a bad bad idea. Congratulations. This news story is now part of the Internet-wide muck and slime, and dragging TPU's name with it.
I have plenty of other cases too.
False how? I provided numerous facts and case examples. I know numerous law enforcement people too. I have also studied criminal law and law enforcement. Prove my sources wrong.
Waiting for your proof to discredit my sources and case examples.
So people haven't been charged and imprisoned for shotty field tests? Videos of people getting shot for grabbing a wallet as ordered too is false? Kid forced on sex offended list for pictures he did not solicit is false? Police creating a cover up false? Chicago black site is false too huh? Prosecutors hiding evidence doesn't happen either? IT guy getting fired for giving defense attorneys almost 1000 photos that the prosecutor in Zimmerman trial was hiding is also false?
www.cnn.com/2013/07/13/justice/zimmerman-it-firing/
I have sources for all of that so where is your expert proof that this is all a myth and the government has never done this?
peopleslawoffice.com/issues-and-cases/wrongful-conviction/
What about the 1980s (IIRC) and police couching kids into false testimony? Been a few years since i studied that. There was an era in US where there was this pattern of bad investigation technic. Anyone who studies criminal law/police will study this era.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4409058/
wrongfulconvictionsblog.org/2013/09/02/the-wrongfully-convicted-sex-offender/
@rtwjunkie let me guess you also think its a myth that the FBI does not manufacture terrorists right?
theintercept.com/2015/02/26/fbi-manufacture-plots-terrorism-isis-grave-threats/
or massive sex rings
www.tennessean.com/story/news/crime/2016/03/03/appeals-court-blasts-somali-gang-sex-trafficking-case/81249316/
lawls
In my case the dude had FIVE witnesses who saw him do it. He was one vote away in the jury from walking. ONE VOTE AFTER FIVE PEOPLE SAW HIM DO IT AND HE ADMITTED IT TO MORE! Listen wrongful prosecutions suck. But, they are NOT THE NORM. There is no systematic persecution of anything. You give our government WAY to much credit. They are not that organized. They can't even keep their checkbook balanced.
Murder cases are far different from drug cases and other non violent crimes. So that is a moot point.
It still doesn't get past the fact that government constantly uses false methods of proving fact like field tests (provided source above). Or the fact 10,000s of people have gone to jail due to drug labs falsely giving positive results.
www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/06/14000_drug_convictions_at_issue_after_faked_lab_te.html
Additionally, with drugs/DUI a cop words is automatically above yours. A cop can plant evidence on you and you will be found guilty no matter what.
Miranda plays into this too. Your word can never prove your innocence but only your guilt. It is automatically hearsay but a cops word can prove your guilt. This is why you never speak to police.
Cops also have habit of "loosing" dashcam footage or their body cam magically doesnt work or sections are missing. Endless sources on this so google away.
I did an FOIA and the cops purposely covered up the mic to hide what they were saying which was critical for me to file an unlawful detention lawsuit. They also never started dashcam and mics until i asked so much of the incriminating stuff was never recorded until half way into the unlawful detention and the other stuff that was, is now missing due to them covering up their mics.
www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/crime/hundreds-of-seattle-police-dashcam-videos-lost-due-to-computer-glitch/
if you bother to read the news or google you know dashcam footage vanishes often in the police favor.
Lastly, the process is the punishment far too often. Police can arrest you strip search you, detain you and release you and no punishment will ever happen.
Again, footage of a cop shooting partner and murdering guy they tackled for no reason trying to cover it up and the entire police department goes alone with covering it up....all that craziness ends up in 0 accountability. Not one person was charged or convicted for murder, falsifying records, unlawful detention, covering it up or anything (source is above with statements and raw footage in a link).
I remember a day people told others that the airplanes are doing something much different than they use to and they thought Wow crazy conspiracy chem trail people.
I remember a day when they told people that cigarettes were healthy and people thought Wow lets smoke lot of them.
I remember a day when people warned about privacy and no one listened or cared :-(