6 ms·

Because why the push to undo something if they weren't planning to do it, or weren't already? I know Verizon has an opt in program for it where they gave you de

by Operyl 10y ago

Because why the push to undo something if they weren't planning to do it, or weren't already? I know Verizon has an opt in program for it where they gave you deals and free data.

xienze 10y ago
Can't argue with that, but again, the status quo for many, many years was that your ISP could have done this, but didn't. And the next time there's a changing of the guard the protections will be put back in place, so I can't see how ISPs are going to bet on selling this information as a viable long-term business strategy.
- Latty 10y ago
  "We shouldn't blame the Republican's for repealing this protection pointlessly, because the Democrats will put it back when they get in power." Seriously? Free pass to do bad stuff because "it won't last". Come on.
  - xienze 10y ago
    I'm not giving them a free pass, I'd prefer the protections to be in place. But I'm just putting the situation in perspective. My observation is just that I'm perplexed about the amount of "sky is falling" reactions here when you couldn't find a peep about "which VPN do I use to keep my ISP from selling my data" on HN say, a year ago.
    - soundwave106 10y ago
      I would argue that the full impact of what is possible wasn't very visible until certain companies got caught doing MITM advertising injections and other questionable tactics (eg Verizon; Googling suggests HN started noticing them and others circa 2014 or so). As far as "simply blowing the situation out of proportion because Republicans did it", it has been pretty obvious that Republicans have been aligned with the telco / big cable companies (as opposed to content companies) for a while. Maybe some are surprised and shocked, but personally I have no problem with this action highlighting that there are differences between current political parties beyond the usual social politics and political memes.
- croon 10y ago
  > And the next time there's a changing of the guard the protections will be put back in place, so I can't see how ISPs are going to bet on selling this information as a viable long-term business strategy. Nope: > The bill not only gives cable companies and wireless providers free rein to do what they like with your browsing history, shopping habits, your location and other information gleaned from your online activity, but it would also prevent the Federal Communications Commission from ever again establishing similar consumer privacy protections. Also, a lot of things are broken. Voices are raised when something bad is actively done, not when something good isn't actively being done. Do you get the difference? I am dismayed that the healthcare system is currently bad and has been bad for generations. Is it smarter to kick up a fuzz randomly out of nowhere, or to do it when there's legislation being made on it, in either direction?
- Delmania 10y ago
  > And the next time there's a changing of the guard the protections will be put back in place, so I can't see how ISPs are going to bet on selling this information as a viable long-term business strategy. I wouldn't bet on it. All the discussion about politics and policy leave out the fact that the GOP now controls 33 state assemblies. 1 more power grab, they will be able it invoke it. They won't have the 38 needed to ram through changes without opposition, but there's a good chance they will attempt to put in legal guards against the Democrats from undoing their policies.
- matthew-wegner 10y ago
  Things have changed, though. Many ISPs are also cable TV providers. Netflix is now at 98m paid subscribers (worldwide), with cable footprint at 94 million (US). Somewhat apples to oranges numbers there, but also: "The thirteen largest pay-TV providers in the US, representing about 95% of the market, lost about 385,000 net video subscribers in 2015." http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2016/03/11/us-pay-tv-continues-to-lose-subscribers/ http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2016/03/11/us-pay-tv-continue... The ISPs have been complaining about being reduced to a dumb pipe for a while now. They are very motivated to increase data revenue...
  - spacemanmatt 10y ago
    All I ever wanted to buy from my ISP was a dumb pipe. It frustrates me that I can't buy that, without the surveillance.

by Operyl 10y ago

Because why the push to undo something if they weren't planning to do it, or weren't already? I know Verizon has an opt in program for it where they gave you deals and free data.

xienze 10y ago

Can't argue with that, but again, the status quo for many, many years was that your ISP could have done this, but didn't. And the next time there's a changing of the guard the protections will be put back in place, so I can't see how ISPs are going to bet on selling this information as a viable long-term business strategy.

Latty 10y ago
"We shouldn't blame the Republican's for repealing this protection pointlessly, because the Democrats will put it back when they get in power." Seriously? Free pass to do bad stuff because "it won't last". Come on.
- xienze 10y ago
  I'm not giving them a free pass, I'd prefer the protections to be in place. But I'm just putting the situation in perspective. My observation is just that I'm perplexed about the amount of "sky is falling" reactions here when you couldn't find a peep about "which VPN do I use to keep my ISP from selling my data" on HN say, a year ago.
  - soundwave106 10y ago
    I would argue that the full impact of what is possible wasn't very visible until certain companies got caught doing MITM advertising injections and other questionable tactics (eg Verizon; Googling suggests HN started noticing them and others circa 2014 or so). As far as "simply blowing the situation out of proportion because Republicans did it", it has been pretty obvious that Republicans have been aligned with the telco / big cable companies (as opposed to content companies) for a while. Maybe some are surprised and shocked, but personally I have no problem with this action highlighting that there are differences between current political parties beyond the usual social politics and political memes.
croon 10y ago
> And the next time there's a changing of the guard the protections will be put back in place, so I can't see how ISPs are going to bet on selling this information as a viable long-term business strategy. Nope: > The bill not only gives cable companies and wireless providers free rein to do what they like with your browsing history, shopping habits, your location and other information gleaned from your online activity, but it would also prevent the Federal Communications Commission from ever again establishing similar consumer privacy protections. Also, a lot of things are broken. Voices are raised when something bad is actively done, not when something good isn't actively being done. Do you get the difference? I am dismayed that the healthcare system is currently bad and has been bad for generations. Is it smarter to kick up a fuzz randomly out of nowhere, or to do it when there's legislation being made on it, in either direction?
Delmania 10y ago
> And the next time there's a changing of the guard the protections will be put back in place, so I can't see how ISPs are going to bet on selling this information as a viable long-term business strategy. I wouldn't bet on it. All the discussion about politics and policy leave out the fact that the GOP now controls 33 state assemblies. 1 more power grab, they will be able it invoke it. They won't have the 38 needed to ram through changes without opposition, but there's a good chance they will attempt to put in legal guards against the Democrats from undoing their policies.
matthew-wegner 10y ago
Things have changed, though. Many ISPs are also cable TV providers. Netflix is now at 98m paid subscribers (worldwide), with cable footprint at 94 million (US). Somewhat apples to oranges numbers there, but also: "The thirteen largest pay-TV providers in the US, representing about 95% of the market, lost about 385,000 net video subscribers in 2015." http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2016/03/11/us-pay-tv-continues-to-lose-subscribers/ http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2016/03/11/us-pay-tv-continue... The ISPs have been complaining about being reduced to a dumb pipe for a while now. They are very motivated to increase data revenue...
- spacemanmatt 10y ago
  All I ever wanted to buy from my ISP was a dumb pipe. It frustrates me that I can't buy that, without the surveillance.