Yesterday the House of Representatives cleared the way for Internet service providers to share and sell your web browsing history without asking permission.
The House passed a resolution that overturned an FCC rule that required internet providers to ask permission before sharing your data, and now the measure is only a signature from President Donald Trump away from being put into place.
The resolution opens the door for companies like Comcast, for example, to sell your browsing history to advertisers and other third parties.
While it seems like an egregious invasion of privacy, Republicans argued that the previous FCC rules discriminated against internet providers because ISPs are unable to access internet data as Google and Facebook can. But as The Verge points out, Google and Facebook can’t actually see your entire web history, only the things you click on while using those sites or a site connected to their ad network.
“The consequences of passing this resolution are clear: broadband providers like AT&T, Comcast, and others will be able to sell your personal information to the highest bidder without your permission,” Representative Anna Eshoo (D-CA) said Tuesday.
Chicago-based Cards Against Humanity co-founder Max Temkin has vowed to buy and release the web history of all public officials if the resolution goes into effect.
If this shit passes I will buy the browser history of every congressman and congressional aide and publish it. cc @SpeakerRyan https://t.co/cOL3mx6JuG
— Max Temkin (@MaxTemkin) March 27, 2017
The Verge has a handy list of all the lawmakers that voted to sell your web browsing history, and how much they were given in “contributions from corporations in the telecom industry and employees of those corporations.”
We’ve pulled out the Illinois members of congress so you can see which of your local lawmakers decided it was a good idea to sell your web history.
Mike Bost Party: Republican District: 12th Total contributions: $29,750
Rodney Davis Party: Republican District: 13th Total contributions: $49,000
Randy Hultgren Party: Republican District: 14th Total contributions: $10,000
Adam Kinzinger Party: Republican District: 16th Total contributions: $75,250
Darin LaHood Party: Republican District: 18th Total contributions: $15,500
Peter Roskam Party: Republican District: 6th Total contributions: $33,600
John Shimkus Party: Republican District: 15th Total contributions: $104,425
