The FCC passed new rules to protect your online privacy

The Federal Communications Commission approved the new the new privacy rules to ensure broadband providers get permission to collect data, as well as to not abuse their costumers’ application usage, browsing history, mobile location, health data, financial information, content of emails and other sensitive personal information being gathered while using the Internet.  The rules require Internet providers, such as Comcast and Verizon, to obtain their costumers’ explicit consent before using or sharing behavioral data with third parties, such as marketing firms. Currently, broadband providers can track users unless they tell them to stop. Service providers will now be forced to be clear about what data they collect and why, as well as to take the necessary steps to notify consumers in cases of data breaches. “It’s the consumers’ information. How it is used should be the consumers’ choice. not the choice of some corporate algorithm.”, said FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler.