ACLU Statement on FCC Vote Ordering Internet Providers to Obtain Customers' Consent Before Sharing Data

WASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission voted today to require internet service providers to get explicit permission from customers before they use or share their personal information.

Jay Stanley, senior policy analyst with the American Civil Liberties Union, had this reaction:

“Today’s vote is a historic win for privacy and free expression and for the vitality of the internet. Just as telephone companies are not allowed to listen in to our calls or sell information about who we talk to, our internet providers shouldn’t be allowed to monitor our internet usage for profit.

“The FCC’s order is not airtight. We can expect the industry to try to exploit every crack in these protections, and hope that the spirit of vigorous oversight and consumer protection that has animated this proceeding will continue. ”