US Internet Service Providers Want to Sell Browsing History

An interest group of American internet providers wants to get rid of privacy rules that prevent the providers from selling internet users’ browsing history to third parties. Browsing history should no longer be considered “sensitive information.”

The advocacy group, the CTIA, has argued before the FCC for the power to share browsing history with third parties without the Internet user’s prior consent. According to the organization, information such as a user’s browsing history should no longer be considered “sensitive information” and would therefore fall outside the applicable privacy rules.

Last year, under the leadership of previous chairman Tom Wheeler, the FCC passed another proposal requiring Internet service providers to inform their customers about the information they collect about users. Under this regulation, providers are not allowed to share sensitive information with third parties without explicit permission. This specifically concerns information such as browsing history, the use of apps, financial information, data about the user’s location and the content of emails.

The current Republican chairman of the FCC, Ajit Pai, voted against these rules as a committee member at the time. A few weeks ago, he already reversed some of the rules. He said the special privacy rules for ISPs are too confusing for US consumers.

In addition, Republicans in the US Congress have submitted a proposal to weaken privacy rules and prevent the FCC from making further rules in the future. The less strict regime of the Federal Trade Commission would then take the lead again, so that browsing history is no longer seen as ‘sensitive information’.