OTI Applauds FTC Investigation of Broadband Privacy

Today, the Federal Trade Commission approved a report on a two-year investigation of six internet service providers under the agency’s Section 6(b) authority. The report found evidence that ISPs have access to vast amounts of personal information about their customers, echoing OTI’s yearslong advocacy on the subject.

In 2016, the Federal Communications Commission created rules to protect the privacy of broadband consumers, which Congress repealed in 2017. Later that year, the FCC abdicated its legal authority over ISPs, leaving the FTC with jurisdiction over the broadband market.

The following quote can be attributed to Joshua Stager, deputy director of broadband and competition policy at New America’s Open Technology Institute:

“We applaud the FTC’s 6(b) investigation of the broadband market. Today’s report confirms our longstanding concerns about the monetization of ISP customer data and the misguided repeal of broadband privacy rules four years ago. Most importantly, it underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive privacy law.

“We also support the comments from Chair Khan and Commissioner Slaughter about the need for the FCC to reassert its authority over broadband providers. Today’s report makes clear that consumers need a strong FCC protecting them from harmful ISP practices. Until that agency’s authority is restored, we urge the FTC to use every tool at its disposal to investigate this deeply anticompetitive market and hold ISPs accountable.”