Congress Voted To Overturn Internet Privacy Rules

This will make it easy for internet providers to sell your browsing history and track your online habits.

March 28, 2017
Congress Voted To Overturn Internet Privacy Rules Alexander Hassenstein / Getty Images

Congress voted on Tuesday to repeal internet privacy rules that were put in place to protect individuals, the New York Times reports. The rules were put in place under the Obama administration, and if they are repealed it would mean internet providers could track and sell customers's information.

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The Senate voted on the measure last week, where it passed with a 50-48 margin. On Tuesday it was voted on in the House, where it passed with a margin of 215-205. The measure now moves to the White House, where President Trump is expected to sign it into law.

The rules that are being repealed were instated by the Federal Communications Commission in October, and stated that broadband providers (such as Comcast and Verizon) had to tell customers about the data that was being collected from them and what was being done with it.

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According to Buzzfeed, the overturning of these rules means that broadband providers could sell your browsing history, target ads specifically to you, and put hidden tracking cookies on your phone. The latter means that a company could track your internet habits even if you are taking precautions against that, such as using a private browsing window.

Congress Voted To Overturn Internet Privacy Rules