The FCC will consider a
proposal for consumer privacy regulations on
March 31st. According to a fact sheet, the rulemaking will "apply the privacy requirements of the Communications Act" to broadband internet access services (ISPs) but not Internet websites, search services, and social media platforms. While
ISPs are engaged in invasive consumer tracking and profiling practices, focusing only on these providers misses a vast amount of data collection activities by other service providers. In a previous
letter to the FCC, EPIC urged the Commission to establish a broad framework for communications privacy, based on
Fair Information Practices. Separately, EPIC filed a
petition with the FCC, joined by 29 organizations, to end the mandatory retention of consumer data.