Started By
Message
locked post

The ISP/privacy issue, the dilemma and "conservatives"

Posted on 3/29/17 at 12:04 pm
Posted by notsince98
KC, MO
Member since Oct 2012
21261 posts
Posted on 3/29/17 at 12:04 pm
I see a lot of so called conservatives, libertarians, small govt, etc. type folks on here that are very upset that ISPs may be allowed to sell data/information about customer's usage. I get that on the surface this seems like an invasion of privacy and is offensive. At first, this was also my gut reaction but then I thought about it more and it seems pretty clear....

If you favor smaller govt, less regulation, etc., it seems fairly clear to me you should be in favor of this as it REMOVES government regulations that tell private companies what they can and can't do with their own property/equipment/data/etc. that they installed, monitor, maintain, operate and obtain legally. This data has never been private and there was never an expectation that it was, at least for me. The ISP has always had this data and used it internally all the time. Google has done this since day 1 and been very open about it.

This also creates a huge opportunity for market growth for smaller ISPs not named AT&T, Comcast, Google, Time Warner, etc. The smaller ISPs won't be able to financially gain near as much as the big dogs when it comes to selling customer data but they do get a nice big marketing chip to play by selling privacy and security to their customers. If people really value this as much as they claim from all the complaining lately, this will help the smaller ISPs grow if they play their cards right.

So while I don't like the idea of personal data getting exploited for the gain of crony capitalist giants, this is a situation where what they want is actually a step in the right direction as far as reducing government.

As a side, does anyone want to help fund my new affordable super high security VPN service startup?
Posted by Centinel
Idaho
Member since Sep 2016
44120 posts
Posted on 3/29/17 at 12:08 pm to
quote:

it seems fairly clear to me you should be in favor of this as it REMOVES government regulations that tell private companies what they can and can't do with their own property/equipment/data/etc


The problem is that most people fail to understand that this removes a regulation that hasn't even gone in to effect yet.

People seem to think ISPs have always been banned from selling data and now the MEAN OL REPUBLICANS!!! are going to allow them to sell your data now.

Posted by 10888bge
H-Town
Member since Aug 2011
8421 posts
Posted on 3/29/17 at 12:12 pm to
Sorry Laizzes Fair does not benefit anyone but the companies, at the expense of the consumer.
Posted by kingbob
Sorrento, LA
Member since Nov 2010
69180 posts
Posted on 3/29/17 at 12:27 pm to
This wouldn't be necessarily a bad thing if ISP's didn't have a virtual monopoly on the market and the flow of information and communications in general. If there were dozens of ISPs rather than a small cabal of colluding geographic monopolies, consumer choice and the free market could do itsmagic.

However ISP's benefit from all of the advantages of being a utility with none of the consumer protections.
Posted by SoulGlo
Shinin' Through
Member since Dec 2011
17248 posts
Posted on 3/29/17 at 12:27 pm to
quote:

Laizzes Fair


Do you know how I know you don't know what the frick you're talking about?
Posted by Jim Rockford
Member since May 2011
104110 posts
Posted on 3/29/17 at 12:31 pm to
quote:

However ISP's benefit from all of the advantages of being a utility with none of the consumer protections.


Worth repeating.
Posted by DavidTheGnome
Monroe
Member since Apr 2015
31208 posts
Posted on 3/29/17 at 12:35 pm to
We've completely abandoned the entire concept of privacy over the last decade or two. Sad
Posted by Centinel
Idaho
Member since Sep 2016
44120 posts
Posted on 3/29/17 at 12:35 pm to
quote:

However ISP's benefit from all of the advantages of being a utility with none of the consumer protections.


You do understand that ISPs have always had to protect PII, PHI, etc. correct? The only thing this law did was add the restriction of sharing your browsing history and app useage data.

Two things that content providers like Google, Amazon, etc. are still free to do. Which inherently gives them a competitive edge over targeted advertising.
Posted by bonhoeffer45
Member since Jul 2016
4367 posts
Posted on 3/29/17 at 12:51 pm to
quote:

If you favor smaller govt, less regulation, etc.


Why do you favor that?

I would surmise it is because underlying that point is at least in part a belief that well functioning markets create the best environment for positive sum, consumer and producer benefiting outcomes right?

If that is the goal, you should be investigating whether this will actually achieve that outcome.

You seem to imply that the ISP is some dynamic marketplace where it is easy to compete. But that is just not the case. In most areas of the country you have only one choice if you want high speed broadband and the monopoly power, in addition to the slew of state and municipal laws/regulations that will remain in place are not in anyway going to pave the way for that monopolistic stronghold to beak.

It just allows the current beneficiaries of that to exploit it even further, without any arguable gain to the consumer.

If a well functioning market is your ideal, this is not a solution to achieving that.
Posted by notsince98
KC, MO
Member since Oct 2012
21261 posts
Posted on 3/29/17 at 12:53 pm to
quote:

We've completely abandoned the entire concept of privacy over the last decade or two. Sad


Not at all. We have abandoned the concept of personal responsibility and private property. Nobody is forced to have an internet service.
Posted by notsince98
KC, MO
Member since Oct 2012
21261 posts
Posted on 3/29/17 at 12:55 pm to
quote:

You seem to imply that the ISP is some dynamic marketplace where it is easy to compete. But that is just not the case. In most areas of the country you have only one choice if you want high speed broadband and the monopoly power, in addition to the slew of state and municipal laws/regulations that will remain in place are not in anyway going to pave the way for that monopolistic stronghold to beak.


Historically this is right but it is changing. For example at my house I have 4 ISPs to choose from and all can provide 1Gbit fiber services. If the smaller companies in my area get a leg up and increase customer bases due to better privacy, they will be able to afford to expand into areas that don't have as many options right now.

this move DOES help level the playing field as it gives another avenue for smaller guys to differentiate themselves from the giants.
This post was edited on 3/29/17 at 12:58 pm
Posted by TigerBait1127
Houston
Member since Jun 2005
47336 posts
Posted on 3/29/17 at 12:59 pm to
quote:

Nobody is forced to have an internet service.



Posted by TigerBait1127
Houston
Member since Jun 2005
47336 posts
Posted on 3/29/17 at 1:01 pm to
quote:

Historically this is right but it is changing.


It's currently correct

quote:

If the smaller companies in my area get a leg up and increase customer bases due to better privacy, they will be able to afford to expand into areas that don't have as many options right now. 


Who are the smaller companies in you area?

quote:

this move DOES help level the playing field as it gives another avenue for smaller guys to differentiate themselves from the giants.


No, it's an avenue for the larger companies to charge for privacy. The barriers to entry are absolutely enormous from a financial standpoint for smaller companies
This post was edited on 3/29/17 at 1:03 pm
Posted by jeff5891
Member since Aug 2011
15899 posts
Posted on 3/29/17 at 1:01 pm to
quote:

If you favor smaller govt, less regulation, etc., it seems fairly clear to me you should be in favor of this as it REMOVES government regulations that tell private companies what they can and can't do with their own property/equipment/data/etc


So with this logic there shouldn't be any regulation at all on private companies?

Bring back Standard oil and Bell Systems right?
This post was edited on 3/29/17 at 1:03 pm
Posted by Big Scrub TX
Member since Dec 2013
38241 posts
Posted on 3/29/17 at 1:01 pm to
quote:

it REMOVES government regulations that tell private companies what they can and can't do with their own property/equipment/data/etc.
Great logic - if these weren't already monopolies.
Posted by Iosh
Bureau of Interstellar Immigration
Member since Dec 2012
18941 posts
Posted on 3/29/17 at 1:02 pm to
quote:

Laizzes Fair
This post was edited on 3/29/17 at 1:04 pm
Posted by Centinel
Idaho
Member since Sep 2016
44120 posts
Posted on 3/29/17 at 1:04 pm to
It honestly blows my mind that people are losing their collective shite over this, but have no damn problem with social media, Google, etc. hoovering up every single damn thing you do for advertising purposes.

Posted by Cromulent
Down the Bayou
Member since Oct 2016
3181 posts
Posted on 3/29/17 at 1:04 pm to
So you haven't had a brain cell since 1998? That's an ignorant statement.
Posted by Tiguar
Montana
Member since Mar 2012
33131 posts
Posted on 3/29/17 at 1:04 pm to
Fukkn saved
Posted by notsince98
KC, MO
Member since Oct 2012
21261 posts
Posted on 3/29/17 at 1:06 pm to
quote:

So with this logic there shouldn't be any regulation at all on private companies?

Bring back Standard oil and Bell Systems right?


Monopolies don't tend to happen naturally. They tend to be the result of big government that creates regulations that help the big boys and hurt the little guys.

yes, i'd be all for getting rid of all government regulations on private companies. How people spend their $ should be regulation enough but that would require people taking personal responsibility and knowing who they are giving their money to and what they are getting in return.
first pageprev pagePage 1 of 8Next pagelast page

Back to top
logoFollow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News
Follow us on X, Facebook and Instagram to get the latest updates on LSU Football and Recruiting.

FacebookXInstagram