The U.S. Congress repealed the data protection act in the Internet
The house of representatives withdrew the law on the right to protection of personal data on the Internet, giving Internet providers the right to sell user data without their permission.
Internet service providers in the United States soon will no longer need to ask users to share their personal information with marketing firms and other market participants.
The house of representatives of the United States Congress voted to abolish imposed under the administration of Barack Obama law requiring Internet service providers to obtain permission for the use of users ‘ personal data, including customer location and history of visits to Internet sites.
Supporters of this decision argue that it will increase competition in the market, critics fear that the abolition of the law will hurt the rights of consumers.
It is expected that President trump will soon approve the decision of the Congress.
The repeal of the law sought such large players of the market like Verizon, AT&T and Comcast, who argued that companies that provide Internet services are regulated more strictly than, for example, Google or Facebook.
A law passed under Barack Obama in October last year, shortly before the election, Donald trump was to enter into force by the end of this year.
He assumed the responsibility of Internet service providers to ask consumers ‘ permission to use their personal data, such as exact coordinates, information on finances, health, children, social security numbers, addresses of websites visited, application usage and content of the messages.
Moreover, Internet companies would be obliged to grant users the right to refuse to provide more open information, such as email addresses.
Winners and losers
The new head of the Federal communications Commission (FCC), Ajit Pai, said that the repeal of the law will equalize players in the Internet space.
“Last year, the Federal communications Commission pushed through the party vote the act on the protection of personal data, developed in the interests of one group of companies and to the detriment of another group, he said. Accordingly, the Congress adopted a resolution rejecting the approach of separation into winners and losers before this law entered into force”.
“I want Americans to know that the FCC will cooperate with the Federal trade Commission, protecting consumers’ personal data on the Internet on a consistent and comprehensive basis,” said Ajit Pai.
However, the decision of the Congress angered the defenders of the rights of Internet users.
The Congress has once again proved that it cares more about the funding interests of its corporations than the safety of their constituents.Evan Garryowen human rights group Fight for the Future (“fight the future”)
“Angry representatives across the political spectrum, and every legislator who voted to take away our right to protection of personal data, you will regret it come election day,” she said.
Activists have launched a campaign to tell people who the congressmen called for the abolition of the law.