Live data from Hacker News

FCC Vote Means Internet Providers Need Permission to Share Your Data

npr.org

51–60 of 118 posts

Re: FCC Vote Means Internet Providers Need Permission to Share Your Data

#51

We have a monopoly. Sign this or you don't get internet.

Which is the absolute first thing they thought of.

ISPs are not allowed to refuse you service for opting out and they're also not allowed to make you "pay for privacy". We'll see how strictly this is applied but it implies that they're also not allowed to weasel out of it by giving a 'discount' to people who opt-in.

Re: FCC Vote Means Internet Providers Need Permission to Share Your Data

#52

lots of power for an entity of unelected officials....

They are legally empowered by elected officials, just like the police, the courts, the entire Justice Department, military, State Department, NIH, NSF, IEEE (for some things), and many, many more. What alternative is there? Our elected officials can't possibly have the time or the expertise to perform all those tasks themselves.

the difference is the communication act of 1934 essentially lets the FCC create laws whereby the police etc don't have that power. the power to create laws should be held by elected officials imo.

the 5 leaders of the FCC get to unilaterally make regulations (laws) that affect every single citizen in america. everything from tv broadcasts to net neutrality

Re: FCC Vote Means Internet Providers Need Permission to Share Your Data

#53

lots of power for an entity of unelected officials....

They are legally empowered by elected officials, just like the police, the courts, the entire Justice Department, military, State Department, NIH, NSF, IEEE (for some things), and many, many more. What alternative is there? Our elected officials can't possibly have the time or the expertise to perform all those tasks themselves.

If Congress legally empowered an un-elected five person 'Super Congress' that wielded the power of Congress itself to make laws independently would you feel like your voice at the ballot box was being undermined?

I'm not saying the US regulatory agencies are at that point, but I would feel better about them if their power was more directly checked by the Executive branch.

Instead of "FCC voted today on a new ISP resulations..." it would be "Today President Obama approves new FCC recommendation...".

Re: FCC Vote Means Internet Providers Need Permission to Share Your Data

#54
post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They are legally empowered by elected officials, just like the police, the courts, the entire Justice Department, military, State Department, NIH, NSF, IEEE (for some things), and many, many more. What alternative is there? Our elected officials can't possibly have the time or the expertise to perform all those tasks themselves.

If Congress legally empowered an un-elected five person 'Super Congress' that wielded the power of Congress itself to make laws independently would you feel like your voice at the ballot box was being undermined? I'm not saying the US regulatory agencies are at that point, but I would feel better about them if their power was more directly checked by the Executive branch. Instead of "FCC voted today on a new ISP resu…

That's great and all if you like the president. Enjoy when its president Palin, Trump, Cruz, or Bachmann for example.

Re: FCC Vote Means Internet Providers Need Permission to Share Your Data

#55
post #11

I'm sure this will lead to radical alterations on paragraph 117 of the typical EULA, where everyone will notice it immediately and have a serious think about the economic value of their personal identifiable information. I have not looked at the actual motion yet but I suspect that companies will only have to answer consumer inquiries in general terms rather than giving them detailed statement. Oh well I've given up…

Does a 60 page EULA count as an explicit yes under this?

It'll take several years of litigation for anyone determined enough to get a straight answer to that question.

Re: FCC Vote Means Internet Providers Need Permission to Share Your Data

#56

I wish the UK had this. Mobile phone/data providers send a header with HTTP requests to provide the site with your phone number which they can then use to charge you without permission.

Doesn't the EU have extensive privacy laws?

Kinda academic after Brexit

Re: FCC Vote Means Internet Providers Need Permission to Share Your Data

#57
post #42

Interestingly there seems to be a loophole in that they can collect the data regardless of consent, but can't use or share it without consent. So chances are this sensitive data will be recorded and put in a database anyway, even if they're not lawfully allowed to look at it without anonymizing first - but a future law could also add an exception, keeping things for law enforcement for instance. I'm triple checking w…

IIRC that's what AT&T did; I guess it was too complex to feed an opt-out blacklist to their DPI boxes. ISPs are still in denial that this data is toxic waste. https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2016/03/data_is_a_tox... If the FCC allows ISPs to collect data as long as they swear it will never be used, the ISPs can then sell it to law enforcement with a contract that says they will also "never use it". https://www…

I don't think that would fly if they are being sued?

How would LE defend money being spent on something that they cannot use? I mean any judge will see it, no?

Re: FCC Vote Means Internet Providers Need Permission to Share Your Data

#58

Interestingly there seems to be a loophole in that they can collect the data regardless of consent, but can't use or share it without consent. So chances are this sensitive data will be recorded and put in a database anyway, even if they're not lawfully allowed to look at it without anonymizing first - but a future law could also add an exception, keeping things for law enforcement for instance. I'm triple checking w…

This will probably just turn into a line in the terms and agreements that everyone just clicks "yes" because they have to in order to use anything.

Re: FCC Vote Means Internet Providers Need Permission to Share Your Data

#59

Interestingly there seems to be a loophole in that they can collect the data regardless of consent, but can't use or share it without consent. So chances are this sensitive data will be recorded and put in a database anyway, even if they're not lawfully allowed to look at it without anonymizing first - but a future law could also add an exception, keeping things for law enforcement for instance. I'm triple checking w…

Will you post the response to HN?

Re: FCC Vote Means Internet Providers Need Permission to Share Your Data

#60
post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

IIRC that's what AT&T did; I guess it was too complex to feed an opt-out blacklist to their DPI boxes. ISPs are still in denial that this data is toxic waste. https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2016/03/data_is_a_tox... If the FCC allows ISPs to collect data as long as they swear it will never be used, the ISPs can then sell it to law enforcement with a contract that says they will also "never use it". https://www…

I don't think that would fly if they are being sued? How would LE defend money being spent on something that they cannot use? I mean any judge will see it, no?

> How would LE defend money being spent on something that they cannot use? I mean any judge will see it, no?

The common-sense interpretation is not always (and, much as I hate to say it, probably sometimes should not be) the interpretation arrived at by a judge.

Post reply on HN