# Congress okays ISP to sell your browsing history **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 30, 2017, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congress-okays-isp-to-sell-your-browsing-history/783345 "2017-03-30T13:51:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![NiceGuyJack](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/niceguyjack/32/3069_2.png) [@NiceGuyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NiceGuyJack)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congress-okays-isp-to-sell-your-browsing-history/783345/1 "2017-03-30T13:51:17Z")
[Congress just cleared the way for internet providers to sell your web browsing history](http://www.cnbc.com/2017/03/28/congress-clears-way-for-isps-to-sell-browsing-history.html). It just needs Trump’s signature and I am guessing he will go ahead and sign it. I doubt he would veto it. So, I was thinking, what about setting up an org that perfectly legally purchases the browsing history of all the politicians who voted for this rule and publish it on a website. I’m sure this could be crowdfunded. I wonder if they would re-think this ruling if it came home and bit them. Thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congress-okays-isp-to-sell-your-browsing-history/783345/2 "2017-03-30T13:58:44Z")
[Actually, the creator of the card game Cards Against Humanity has done just that thing.](http://resistancereport.com/news/cards-humanity-creator-just-pledged-buy-publish-congresss-browser-history/) ---
**Author:** ![NiceGuyJack](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/niceguyjack/32/3069_2.png) [@NiceGuyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NiceGuyJack)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congress-okays-isp-to-sell-your-browsing-history/783345/3 "2017-03-30T14:06:07Z")
> [@Lightnin](#): > > [Actually, the creator of the card game Cards Against Humanity has done just that thing.](http://resistancereport.com/news/cards-humanity-creator-just-pledged-buy-publish-congresss-browser-history/) Wow, that was quick. Thanks for pointing it out. ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congress-okays-isp-to-sell-your-browsing-history/783345/4 "2017-03-30T14:21:44Z")
Great minds think alike. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congress-okays-isp-to-sell-your-browsing-history/783345/5 "2017-03-30T15:27:04Z")
To be precise, Congress just elected to retain the status quo. From your link: > [@](#): > > While reversing the FCC’s privacy rules will technically just maintain the status quo — internet providers have actually been able to sell your web browsing data forever (it’s just not a thing we think about all that much) — they were about to lose permission to keep doing it, unless they got explicit consent or anonymized the info. Not saying it’s the right decision, but the distinction is real - ISP’s have always had the option to sell your browsing info. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congress-okays-isp-to-sell-your-browsing-history/783345/6 "2017-03-30T15:46:54Z")
As much as I hate coining post-XXXX words to describe the current situation, we do live in a post-privacy world. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congress-okays-isp-to-sell-your-browsing-history/783345/7 "2017-03-30T15:53:25Z")
Not exactly framed as a debate, but if the OP would like to debate please reach out. Until then I’ll move from Elections to IMHO. [/moderating] ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congress-okays-isp-to-sell-your-browsing-history/783345/8 "2017-03-30T15:54:22Z")
> [@Lightnin](#): > > [Actually, the creator of the card game Cards Against Humanity has done just that thing.](http://resistancereport.com/news/cards-humanity-creator-just-pledged-buy-publish-congresss-browser-history/) Unless I’m mistaken, I think the author and the Cards Against Humanity person are talking about two different things. That is, the CAH guy is talking about what’s going on right now and the author of the article is calling it Net Neutrality. Like I said, I could be mistaken and there could be some overlap between Net Neutrality and ISPs being allowed to sell browser history, but not that I’m aware of. Also, that’s another thing, the article says ‘browser history’, I assume what they actually mean is ‘items that you’ve requested and/or have been sent to you’, entirely (kinda) different than my browser history. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congress-okays-isp-to-sell-your-browsing-history/783345/9 "2017-03-30T16:09:40Z")
Would routing all traffic through a proxy eliminate any information to be gleaned from such data? ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congress-okays-isp-to-sell-your-browsing-history/783345/10 "2017-03-30T16:22:59Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > Would routing all traffic through a proxy eliminate any information to be gleaned from such data? You need a private VPN in order to strip all identifying data from your entire Internet connection (all apps and ports) ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congress-okays-isp-to-sell-your-browsing-history/783345/11 "2017-03-30T16:34:08Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > You need a private VPN in order to strip all identifying data from your entire Internet connection (all apps and ports) And you need a proxy provider you can trust to not sell the same information you’re hiding from your ISP. It comes down to a choice between who you know you can’t trust and who you only suspect you can’t trust. ---
**Author:** ![greenmario](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/97f17d/32.png) [@greenmario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/greenmario)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congress-okays-isp-to-sell-your-browsing-history/783345/12 "2017-03-30T16:40:00Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Also, that’s another thing, the article says ‘browser history’, I assume what they actually mean is ‘items that you’ve requested and/or have been sent to you’, entirely (kinda) different than my browser history. Can you expand on this? I’m not sure I understand the difference ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congress-okays-isp-to-sell-your-browsing-history/783345/13 "2017-03-30T16:51:52Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > To be precise, Congress just elected to retain the status quo. From your link: > Not saying it’s the right decision, but the distinction is real - ISP’s have always had the option to sell your browsing info. Yes, the new Law has changed nothing as it currently stands. It knocked down a admin ruling that had not yet taken force. So the Title of this thread is wrong and alarmist… as are most of the artiles and blogs i have seen about it. Mind you, I agree that such protection is important. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congress-okays-isp-to-sell-your-browsing-history/783345/14 "2017-03-30T16:56:04Z")
How long will it be until some elected official is claiming to have been hacked because they would never [insert unsavory thing here]? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congress-okays-isp-to-sell-your-browsing-history/783345/15 "2017-03-30T17:26:33Z")
> [@greenmario](#): > > Can you expand on this? I’m not sure I understand the difference Net Neutrality is basically just the concept that everyone that touches data shouldn’t do any more with it than check to see where it’s going and send it on it’s way, period. People against it argue that anyone that handles data (namely ISPs) should be able to do what they want with the data. For the majority of people what this comes down to is that you can get a 20mbps connection and everything will be perfect. You’ll be able to play games with your friends, everyone in your house can stream youtube and vimeo at the same time, but Netflix will never _quite_ work. You’ll always feel like the picture could be better or maybe you never quite get through an entire show or movie with out it stopping to buffer. The reason being that they’re throttling the connection in hopes that you use their on demand selection instead OR that Netflix gives in and pays them to stop. TLDR, Net Neutrality states that all data is treated equally, without it, an ISP gets to choose based on anything (including bribes/pay for play) which data gets priority. What’s being discussed above isn’t net neutrality. I don’t know if it has a name, but it’s not that. > **[Net neutrality](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Net_neutrality)** > > Network neutrality, often referred to as net neutrality, is the principle that Internet service providers (ISPs) must treat all Internet communications equally, offering users and online content providers consistent rates irrespective of content, website, platform, application, type of equipment, source address, destination address, or method of communication (i.e., without price discrimination). Net neutrality was advocated for in the 1990s by the presidential administration of Bill Clinto Su... ---
**Author:** ![NiceGuyJack](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/niceguyjack/32/3069_2.png) [@NiceGuyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NiceGuyJack)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congress-okays-isp-to-sell-your-browsing-history/783345/16 "2017-03-30T17:31:13Z")
My impression was that ISPs required your consent if they wanted to sell your browsing history. Whereas that consent would no longer be required under this ruling. So wouldn’t that indicate a big difference? ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congress-okays-isp-to-sell-your-browsing-history/783345/17 "2017-03-30T17:52:53Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > People against it argue that anyone that handles data (namely ISPs) should be able to do what they want with the data. To be fair, there are those of us who think that Net Neutrality goes to far, and that there are some specific cases in which ISPs, various websites, and end users ought to be able to treat some data differently than other data. It’s a nuanced point, but there are plenty of positions between “all bits are equal” and “corporate shill”. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congress-okays-isp-to-sell-your-browsing-history/783345/18 "2017-03-30T17:53:02Z")
> [@NiceGuyJack](#): > > My impression was that ISPs required your consent if they wanted to sell your browsing history. > Whereas that consent would no longer be required under this ruling. So wouldn’t that indicate a big difference? Well, not really, see at no time have ISPs required your consent if they wanted to sell your browsing history. This was \*going to be \*a rule. But never actually was. The GOP got rid of the rule before it took effect. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congress-okays-isp-to-sell-your-browsing-history/783345/19 "2017-03-30T18:01:15Z")
I am sure there will be great demand for ISP plans that will offer “we do not ever save your browsing history” for an extra $10/mo. Do you think there will be such demand? I very much doubt it (though I am sure it will be offered). ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congress-okays-isp-to-sell-your-browsing-history/783345/20 "2017-03-30T18:15:26Z")
> [@iamthewalrus\_3](#): > > To be fair, there are those of us who think that Net Neutrality goes to far, and that there are some specific cases in which ISPs, various websites, and end users ought to be able to treat some data differently than other data. What specific cases? What data could be treated differently? And why? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congress-okays-isp-to-sell-your-browsing-history/783345.md?page=2)