It’s a good day for consumers, and the advertisers are tearing out their hair: The FCC today voted to adopt new privacy rules that severely restrict what data ISPs can collect from you without your consent. The Association of National Advertisers called the rules “unprecedented, misguided and extremely harmful.” If that isn’t a strong endorsement, I don’t know what is!
The rules are briefly summarized, which is usually a sign they’re strong and far-reaching. The nut of the new rule, first proposed earlier this year, is this: “ISPs are required to obtain affirmative ‘opt-in’ consent from consumers to use and share sensitive information.” Note that it doesn’t say they can’t collect that information — more on this later.
