Category: Privacy

Clearing up the Senate’s confusion on FCC privacy rules

At oversight hearing on Wednesday, the Senate Commerce Committee confronted Federal Communications Commission Chairman Pai with questions over last week’s partial stay of the commission’s broadband privacy order. While privacy rules are certainly highly complicated, comments from some senators telegraphed a fundamental misunderstanding of what has been done to date to protect consumers, and given the current ecosystem, what the FCC’s proper role should be going forward.

Congress looks to overturn Obama internet privacy rules

PanARMENIAN.Net – Republicans in the U.S. Congress are moving to repeal regulations adopted by the Obama administration in October that would have subjected internet service providers to stricter scrutiny than websites to protect customers’ private data , Reuters reports. Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona introduced a resolution on Tuesday, March 7 backed by 34 other senators to undo the regulations under a provision that allows Congress to repeal recently approved federal regulations.

Congress May Overturn Obama-Era Rules on Internet Privacy

Republicans in the U.S. Congress are moving to repeal regulations adopted by the Obama administration in October that would have subjected internet service providers to stricter scrutiny than websites to protect customers' Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona introduced a resolution on Tuesday backed by 34 other senators to undo the regulations under a provision that allows Congress to repeal recently approved federal regulations. Representative Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, who chairs a House panel on telecommunications, introduced a companion measure on Wednesday.

6 changes the FCC has made in just six weeks

Check out this story on USATODAY.com: http://usat.ly/2mI3xq2 One of the FCC’s moves under the new administration was the removal from the agenda an order that would require pay-TV providers make free apps so subscribers could watch programming without a set-top box. In just six weeks under the Trump administration, the Federal Communications Commission has quickly made its mark on issues such as Net neutrality and online privacy.

Senators push FCC to keep its net neutrality rules

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission should reverse course and keep the net neutrality rules it passed just two years ago, several Democratic senators said Wednesday. The FCC has not yet moved to repeal the regulations prohibiting broadband providers from selectively blocking or slowing web traffic, but the agency’s new chairman, Republican Ajit Pai, has called the rules a “mistake.”

Congress Takes Sledgehammer to Broadband Privacy Rules Through Congressional Review Act

Today Senator Jeff Flake introduced a resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act to repeal the broadband privacy rules enacted by the Federal Communications Commission last October. The rules protect consumer privacy by requiring ISPs to seek affirmative consent before using or disclosing their customers’ sensitive information, including web browsing and app usage history, for marketing purposes.

Industry groups push Congress to roll back internet privacy rules

Conservative and telecom industry groups are pushing lawmakers to undo privacy regulations passed by the Federal Communications Commission last year under the Obama administration. In a letter sent Tuesday to the top members of the Senate Commerce Committee, the groups called for lawmakers to use the Congressional Review Act to eliminate the privacy rules.

FCC Halts New Data Security Rules; Broader Repeal of Protections on Tap

WASHINGTON Reporters and analysts say the move by the Federal Communications Commission last week to halt new government rules related to data security from taking effect could mean a broader repeal of privacy protections for high-speed internet users. After a 2-to-1 party-line vote by the Republican-led commission, Ajit Pai, the chairman, announced last week that part of the privacy rules passed in October would be temporarily stayed.

FCC, in potential sign of the future, halts new data security rules

The Federal Communications Commission on Wednesday halted new government rules related to data security from taking effect this week, in a potential prelude to a broader repeal of privacy protections for users of high-speed internet. After a 2-to-1, party-line vote by the Republican-led commission, Ajit Pai, the chairman, announced that a portion of privacy rules passed in October would be temporarily stayed.

FCC puts robocalls, prison phones at the top of its agenda – CNET

On Thursday, newly minted Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai released the agency’s agenda for the month, with six items it will discuss and vote on March 23. At the top of the list is killing robocalls — those automated phone calls that annoy the entire nation. Pai has been working fast to kill regulation and policies like net neutrality — the concept that all internet traffic must be treated as equal — that the previous administration enforced.

Overnight Tech: FCC votes in favor of stay on data security |…

FCC VOTES TO HALT INTERNET PRIVACY RULE: The Federal Communications Commission on Wednesday voted 2-1 along party lines to prevent a new internet privacy rule from taking effect. The provision was part of a larger set of broadband privacy rules passed by the FCC in October under the Obama administration and set to go into effect on Thursday.

FCC halts Internet privacy rule that imposes data security requirements on broadband providers

The Federal Communications Commission on Wednesday voted to halt an Internet privacy rule that would have imposed data security requirements on broadband providers. The move, by a 2-1 vote, came after the agency’s new Republican chairman, Ajit Pai, indicated last week that he opposed the provision and broader privacy rules because they imposed tougher restrictions on high-speed Internet providers than on websites and social networks.

Democrats should get on board with repeal of FCC privacy rules

Is the broadband privacy sky falling? You’d think so if you listen to the apocalyptic tech press or Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey Democrats should get on board with repeal of FCC privacy rules Senate Dems hit FCC chairman on consumer data risks Dems rip Trump administration for revoking Obama’s transgender directive MORE They claim that Republican Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai is about to leave consumers totally unprotected from broadband providers who might use information gathered about them. A press call yesterday put out a flurry of mixed metaphors: Republicans want a “black hole” or an “unregulated Wild West” for broadband privacy.

Overnight Tech: Dems fire back on net neutrality, internet privacy |…

DEM FCC COMMISH VOWS TO FIGHT FOR NET NEUTRALITY: The lone Democratic commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission joined with activists on Capitol Hill Monday to commemorate the anniversary of the agency’s landmark net neutrality rules and vowed to fight to defend them. “Now it is time for us to once again roll up our sleeves and fight for the protections embodied in the Open Internet Order, that are designed to ensure that the internet remains an open platform, that enables free speech, freedom of expression and the ability for innovation to flourish,” said Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, speaking alongside representatives from civil rights groups and advocates of net neutrality.

Internet privacy rules headed for showdown

In a showdown over Internet privacy, the newly conservative Federal Communications Commission and the Republican-led Congress are trying to block tough Obama administration rules that limit how broadband Internet providers use their customers’ personal information. At stake is the way Internet service providers such as Comcast Corp., AT&T Inc., and Verizon Communications Inc. use and store the sensitive data they collect, including customers’ locations, their financial information, Social Security numbers, and Internet browsing habits.

The FCC just rolled back some of its privacy rules, reversing previous positions

While previous FCC rules sought to protect consumers from ISPs, the new administration doesn’t seem to agree with these guidelines The FCC is under new leadership, and it’s looking to scale back some of the privacy regulations of the previous administration. On Friday, the newly appointed chairman of the Federal Communications Commission asked the organization to delay a set of the privacy rules that was initially slated to take effect next week.

Why the FCC delayed new privacy regulations for AT&T, Verizon, and Comcast

By stepping back from Obama-era privacy rules, the Trump Administration’s FCC has made another decision that’s likely to benefit internet service providers, but not internet users. Federal Communications Commission Commissioner Ajit Pai and FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler testify at a House Appropriations Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee hearing on the FCC’s FY2016 budget, on Capitol Hill in Washington March 24, 2015.

FCC chair to block stricter broadband data privacy rules

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission will block some Obama administration rules that subject broadband providers to stricter scrutiny than websites, a spokesman said on Friday, in a victory for internet providers such as AT&T Inc, Comcast Corp and Verizon Communications Inc. Federal Communications Commission Commissioner Ajit Pai and FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler testify at a House Appropriations Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee hearing on the FCC’s FY2016 budget, on Capitol Hill in Washington March 24, 2015.

FCC chairman delays implementation of internet privacy rules – CNET

Chairman Pai has asked his fellow commissioners to vote to delay implementing part of the FCC’s new privacy rules as it considers petitions that challenge the regulation. The Federal Communications Commission’s new chairman Ajit Pai is hitting the pause button on internet privacy regulations put in place during the Obama administration, which wireless and broadband companies have complained are unfair.

FCC chairman delays implementation of internet privacy rules – CNET

Chairman Pai has asked his fellow commissioners to vote to delay implementing part of the FCC’s new privacy rules as it considers petitions that challenge the regulation. The Federal Communications Commission’s new chairman Ajit Pai is hitting the pause button on internet privacy regulations put in place during the Obama administration, which wireless and broadband companies have complained are unfair.

Microsoft Faces European Privacy Probes Over Windows 10

Microsoft Corp. faces a coordinated investigation by European privacy regulators after it failed to do enough to address their concerns about the collection and processing of user data with a series of changes to Windows 10 last month. European Union data-protection officials sent a letter to Microsoft saying they remain “concerned about the level of protection of users’ personal data,” according to a copy of the document posted by the Dutch watchdog Tuesday.

Report: Pai pick as chief at FCC

Citing unidentified people, Bloomberg and Politico both reported Friday that the next chairman of the Federal Communications Commission will be Ajit Pai, currently a commissioner at the agency. Pai’s chief of staff, Matthew Berry, declined to comment.

Cable companies pushing to repeal internet privacy rules

Some of America’s biggest cable companies are asking the government to roll back a landmark set of privacy regulations it approved last fall — kicking off an effort by the industry and its allies to dismantle key internet policies of the Obama years. In a petition filed to federal regulators Monday, a top Washington trade group whose members include Comcast, Charter and Cox Communications argued that the rules should be thrown out.

Ad Industry Petitions FCC To Jettison Its Privacy Rules

Advertising trade groups are seizing the political moment in a bid to dismantle the Federal Communications Commission’s recently passed broadband consumer privacy laws . With the commission on the cusp of a Republican majority – Chairman Tom Wheeler has said he’ll step down on inauguration day – the writing could be on the wall for the FCC’s controversial regulations.

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FCC Chair Wheeler To Step Down

The Federal Communications Commission is about to get a big shakeup in terms of personnel and quite likely in policy. On Thursday, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler [seen here], who pushed through controversial rules protecting net neutrality and guarding consumer privacy, announced he will step down from the commission on Jan. 20, the same day that Donald Trump will be inaugurated as president.