Can a regular guy buy people's web history from their ISP?

Question

Since Trump signed the bill, I wonder if some average joe can legally buy web history of people he know. If advertisers can buy it, why can't normal people?

Answer 1

No. For one thing, the law has not actually changed- what happened was that Obama introduced regulations that would have stopped ISP's from doing this. The regulations were due to come into effect this year, but Trump has blocked them.



Now at present, they are not selling the personal web browsing histories of anyone, and they are extremely unlikely to ever do so- any ISP caught doing so would face a massive backlash. What they would be more likely to do would be to profile users based on the types of sites they visit, and help advertisers target ads at particular demographics. Many advertising networks already do a similar thing now, and in most, it is not possible to extract any one person's individual browsing history.



There are still ways to hide your activity if you want to, through services like VPN's. Some cost money, some don't, but if you know what you're doing, you could easily make it impossible for your ISP to track your activity.



However no, you could not go to an ISP and buy some specific person's web browsing history.

Answer 2

It's not so much as buy as it is share. They've always done this, you have the option to opt out, if you can find that option, of course. They don't blast that you could opt out.



Here's the folks you thank for this.



http://www.theverge.com/2017/3/29/15100620/congress-fcc-isp-web-browsing-privacy-fire-sale



https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2017/03/five-ways-cybersecurity-will-suffer-if-congress-repeals-fcc-privacy-rules

Answer 3

The reports on the issue are FLAT OUT LIES. In fact, ISPs have ALWAYS had the right to sell the information in question, and YOU have always accepted terms that SPECIFICALLY allow them to. On the other hand, they have NEVER sold the search history of individuals. What that actually sell to advertisers is lists of users who have searched for the types of things the advertisers are selling.

Answer 4

The advertisements I get on Yahoo Answers have nothing to do with my location or my browsing or search history. Right now there is one for a Free at-home colon disease test from some pharmacy in the US (I'm in the UK)

One from some New Zealand children's charity

And one from a Canadian bank

Answer 5

SOLD!!! Republicans just sold your online privacy. Let’s see what they’re hiding…..



In a shocking turn for for those that place a value on privacy, The Republican-controlled US House of Representatives on Tuesday repealed privacy rules that would have required internet service providers such as Comcast and Time Warner Cable to get consumers' consent before selling or sharing their web browsing data with advertisers and other companies.



ISP now stands for "information sold for profit" - Ed Markey (D-Mass.)

https://www.gofundme.com/buy-congress-internet-history

Answer 6

It is inevitable.



Except for cell service, where there is some competition and they'll likely compete to offer pretend privacy for customers.

Answer 7

This isn't anything to be worried over, companies getting your browser history isn't anything new. Haven't you noticed that adds are kinda...well...they seem like they are tailored to you specifically? I mean, the adds are ALWAYS something you would be interested in, right?



I wonder how they do that....