How do ISPs collect your personal data to serve up targeted ads? The Federal Trade Commission wants to know.
On Tuesday, the FTC called on several US broadband providers to answer questions about their data-collection policies, including what personal information is shared and whether consumers can, indeed, opt out. Targeted companies include AT&T, Comcast, Google Fiber, T-Mobile, and Verizon.
In 2017, the US government repealed privacy rules that barred ISPs from selling their customers' internet browsing histories without permission. Lawmakers justified the repeal by saying it would allow broadband providers to compete more fairly with Google and Facebook, which also collect personal information to serve ads.
At the time, ISPs such as AT&T, Comcast, and Verizon said customers could opt out of the data collection. Under federal law, broadband providers can only disclose your personal data if it's been anonymized and shared in bulk with the data from other customers.
Nevertheless, the FTC has decided to take a closer look at the whole issue. The goal is to better understand how ISPs approach privacy as they become "vertically integrated platforms" that also serve ad-supported content. AT&T, for instance, recently acquired Time Warner and has plans to launch a streaming service later this year as it also boosts content offerings on HBO Now.
"Under current law, the FTC has the ability to enforce against unfair and deceptive practices involving Internet service providers," the commission said in its press release.
The FTC wants broadband providers to reveal how they aggregate and anonymize the personal data they collect, and whether any of it is shared with third parties. The commission also wants to know how long the data is retained and whether any ISPs have ever denied or degraded broadband service to customers who opted out of the data collection. The companies have 45 days to answer the FTC's letter
"We will have to do more to get to the bottom of potentially problematic practices when it comes to privacy and competition," Commissioner Rohit Chopra wrote in a tweet on Tuesday.
If you're looking for more privacy on your internet browsing, consider a VPN, which can prevent ISPs from snooping on your website lookups.