FTC: ISPs Collect Personal Data About Users And There Are Few Options

[engine]

The FTC has just published a report showing that few consumers realise how much personal data is collected by ISPs, and that the users' options for restricting use of the data is limited, or difficult to find.

The report identified several troubling data collection practices among several of the ISPs, including that they combine data across product lines; combine personal, app usage, and web browsing data to target ads; place consumers into sensitive categories such as by race and sexual orientation; and share real-time location data with third-parties.

At the same time, the report found the privacy protections many of the companies offer raised several concerns. Even though several of the ISPs promise not to sell consumers personal data, they allow it to be used, transferred, and monetized by others and hide disclosures about such practices in fine print of their privacy policies. For example, several news outlets noted that subscribers’ real-time location data shared with third-party customers was being accessed by car salesmen, property managers, bail bondsmen, bounty hunters, and others without reasonable protections or consumers’ knowledge and consent, according to the report.

[ftc.gov...]

It remains to be seen what actions may come from this report, but, without doubt, it should certainly require attention.

[ftc.gov...]

[tangor]

Par for the course ... falls into the "beg forgiveness rather than ask permission" paradigm.

[Sgt_Kickaxe]

... without the begging for forgiveness part or the permission part.

[engine]

Well, I don't think it's good enough.

The report identified several troubling data collection practices among several of the ISPs, including that they combine data across product lines; combine personal, app usage, and web browsing data to target ads; place consumers into sensitive categories such as by race and sexual orientation; and share real-time location data with third-parties.

There should be far more user information and explanation available for user consent, and, importantly, opt out, especially if the information is being used for marketing purposes.

[RhinoFish]

Wait until they file lawsuits and have whistleblowers... and we find out who is buying the data.
:-)

"and that the users' options for restricting use of the data is limited, or difficult to find"
FTC should offer rewards for whistleblowers.