An online security advocacy group recently reported that web users are facing more threat to their privacy from their own Internet service providers as these large companies were revealed to be working with data brokers in order to track users' browsing habits.
The Center for Digital Democracy reported on March 24 that several large Internet service providers have either formed partnerships with data tracking firms. The report added that some of these service providers have created their own or acquired other data tracking and analytics firms.
In a statement acquired by PC World, the Center for Digital Democracy said, "ISPs have been on a shopping spree to help build their data-targeting system across devices and platforms. Superfast computers analyze our information to decide in milliseconds whether to target us for marketing and more."
These metadata that contain user information and browsing preferences can then be bought or sold, most of the time to financial marketers, health advertisers and fast food companies. What is even more alarming is that the transactions are being done without the knowledge of users.
According to Tech Crunch, the report claims that these new programmatic advertising scheme involves alliances from powerful companies that control data transmission, media, advertising and even technology companies. This new advertising model also covers almost every platform of device and media including audio, video and mobile.
The Center for Digital Democracy report also stated that sophisticated programs developed by Internet services providers can even match a user's browsing history in order to sync it with the user's TV viewing habits and mobile apps in order to target advertising across several platforms.
The Center for Digital Democracy have already sent their report to the United States Federal Communications Commission. Additionally, the FFC is scheduled for a vote next week in order to decide the future of imposing tougher privacy rules towards Internet service providers. Several service providers have already voiced out their disapproval of the proposed guidelines stating that the intervention of the FCC in matters regarding privacy policy is not necessary.
The FCC's effort to impose new regulations regarding Internet service providers privacy rules is part of the agency's mandate when broadband services was reclassified as a regulated, common-carrier service in the net neutrality rule passed in February 2015.