Civil Rights Groups Press for Strong Privacy Rules for ISPs

with a 2014 document, “Civil Rights Principles for the Era of Big Data,” the groups said. “As part of that rulemaking, we encourage the Commission to review the ways in which the use of collected data could have a disproportionate adverse impact on historically disadvantaged communities, develop rules consistent with the Civil Rights Principles for the Era of Big Data, and ensure that baseline privacy protections extend equally to all wireless and wireline broadband consumers, regardless of their income level,” the groups said. “Privacy protections should be made equally available to all consumers, regardless of whether they are rich or poor, using fixed or mobile connections. In light of how data collection and use practices could reinforce societal disparities, the Commission should set strong baseline privacy rules that ISPs must respect for all of their customers.” The more than 20 signers of the letter include the American Civil Liberties Union, Common Cause, Communications Workers of America, Free Press, Media Alliance, New America's Open Technology Institute, Public Knowledge and United Church of Christ. Several of the groups also released statements. "It is crucially important that consumers not be forced to choose between going online and protecting their privacy -- we can do both, and the Commission’s proposal will help us get there," said Laura Moy, representing OTI.