The new consumer broadband privacy rules adopted by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) is a major step to safeguard consumer privacy in this time of rapid technological change, said FCC chairman Tom Wheeler.
The new rules allow consumers to choose how their Internet Service Provider (ISP) uses and shares their personal data.
The more our economy and our lives move online, the more information about us goes over our Internet Service Provider (ISP) – and the more consumers want to know how to protect their personal information in the digital age, Wheeler said.
FCC thinks customer has the right to decide how their data is used and shared.
The new broadband policy has been formulated after consultation with consumer and public interest groups, fixed and mobile ISPs, advertisers, app and software developers, academics, other government actors including the FTC, and individual consumers.
Fact sheet: THE FCC ADOPTS ORDER TO GIVE BROADBAND CONSUMERS INCREASED CHOICE OVER THEIR PERSONAL INFORMATION
The feedback from community has helped the Commission craft the rules that provide consumers with increased choice, transparency and security online.
FCC has also initiated an internal process to address the harmful impacts of mandatory arbitration requirements on consumers of communications services. FCC is likely to produce a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on this important topic by February 2017.
