Senate Republicans voted today to kill federal privacy rules

While the internet provider and telecommunications industries donate heavily to both parties, a previous Vocativ analysis found that of the 22 senators who initially sponsored the resolution, all had regularly received heavy funding from companies and trade groups in the area. It was a clear-cut case of federal government overreach that harms consumers. Sen.

In 2016, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decided the FTC no longer had jurisdiction to regulate ISPs when it came to privacy issues, and without the FTC, there is only one agency that has the jurisdiction to protect consumers from ISPs – the FCC. Edward Markey (D) in a statement following the vote. Earlier this month, the FCC temporarily blocked those rules from taking effect, a victory for internet providers such as AT&T Inc Comcast Corp and Verizon Communications Inc that had strongly opposed the measure.

If the rules are dropped, US ISPs would be allowed to gather data on customers, their browsing histories, viewing habits, location and app usage. Vocativ reports that the 22 Republican senators behind the move have received more than $1.7 million from the telecom industry since the 2012 USA election.

At the time of their adoption, then FCC Chair Tom Wheeler said: “The bottom line is that it’s your data”. These lawmakers have shown in their vote that they have no regard for consumer privacy, and that they are always willing to side with corporations, no matter how small the prize.

Those rules have not gone into effect, but they require ISPs to tell consumers what information is being collected and how it is being used or shared.

Another Democratic member stepped down, too, leaving the commission with a 2-1 Republican majority.

“The FCC should have made sure that its regulatory approach matched the FTC’s framework”. Prior to this Congress, this procedure under the Congressional Review Act had only been used once before.

Before the resolution becomes law, it must now pass in the GOP-controlled House and go to the White House for the president’s signature – these should be easy hurdles for the resolution to overcome.

The resolution also would prevent the FCC from ever enacting similar consumer protections in the future.

“Consumers have a fundamental right to privacy”.

But internet privacy advocates said the Senate vote erodes people right to internet privacy by allowing large corporations a free hand over their personal data. The House could vote against canceling those rules and President Donald Trump could elect to veto any final decision killing the privacy rules. Here are three reasons why the House of Representatives should vote no to overturning the FCC rules.