May 5, 2017

Seattle adopts privacy rules to counter Trump's repeal

AP

Seattle is the first city to adopt its own rules requiring internet service providers to get consent from their broadband customers before sharing or selling their personal data, including web-browsing history, according to Seattle's Capitol Hill Times.

Seattle's rules extend to Comcast, CenturyLink and Wave, but not to wireless providers operating in the city. The rules also don't apply to internet platforms like Google and Facebook.

Why now? Last month Trump signed a resolution overturning the FCC's rules that required ISPs to get customer permission before sharing their personal data with third parties. Since then a number of states have introduced measures to restore privacy rules for ISPs, including Minnesota, Illinois and New York. (Government Technology has a map of the state initiatives.)

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