GOP takes aim at internet privacy rules

http://thehill.com/policy/technology/323441-week-ahead-gop-takes-aim-internet-privacy-rules

By Ali Breland and Harper Neidig - 03/13/17

Congressional Republicans are moving against the Federal Communications Commission's broadband privacy rules.

In recent days, lawmakers in both the House and Senate have offered legislation to roll back the Obama-era measures, with bills from Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), the chairwoman of the House Commerce subpanel on communication and technology.

Both bills aim to kill the rules using the Congressional Review Act (CRA), which allows Republicans to block rules with only a simple majority in both chambers.

The FCC's privacy rules were approved under then-Chairman Tom Wheeler, a Democrat, in October, and bar internet service providers from collecting "sensitive" consumer data like browsing information and app usage data without their customers' express consent.

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