While the US airstrikes against Syria have dominated headlines the past week, the President has quietly overturned legislation that would have stopped internet service providers (ISPs) from selling Americans’ web browsing history, location, health data and other personal information to advertisers.
The rules, created by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and passed under Barack Obama in 2016, were due to come into effect this year and would have forced ISPs to let consumers know what information is being collected and how it is being shared or used.
Think about it – where you shop, bank and have insurance can all be sold on without consent. It puts ISPs on the same level as companies such as Google and Facebook, which earn their profits by presenting users more tailored online advertising – an $83 billion industry.
Of course, you can change providers if you don’t like their privacy practices – but most Americans only have access to one or two broadband companies, according to Government statistics.
It’s the latest example of the Trump administration claiming to be a government for the people – while selling them out for the sake of corporate interests (our opinion).
Perhaps that’s why we didn’t see Mr Trump signing this order on the news.
