FCC cracks down on Verizon Wireless for using ‘supercookies’

[phaZed]

FCC cracks down on Verizon Wireless for using ‘supercookies’

The Federal Communications Commission is cracking down on Verizon Wireless for using a powerful type of code to track its customers around the Internet, as the agency pushes to increase its role in protecting online privacy. The code, dubbed a "supercookie" by privacy advocates, is almost impossible to disable and could allow almost anyone to follow users around the Web.

Under the terms of a settlement agreement announced Monday, Verizon must pay a $1.35 million fine and will only be able to use the tracking mechanism when users connect to Verizon's corporate family of services unless the company gets customers' opt-in consent.

While the Federal Trade Commission is often thought of as the government's primary privacy watch dog, the FCC's power to police online privacy got a major boost last year. As a quirk of how the agency moved to enforce network neutrality rules, broadband providers will be subject to new privacy scrutiny. The FCC is in the process of coming up with a version of its privacy rules that apply to broadband Internet providers, which are expected soon.

A small win for privacy here.

 

[katz]

These big companies need to be spanked...however...

"Verizon must pay a $1.35 million fine..."

Hopefully that doesn't show up in my bill six months down the road from now...

 

[Markverhyden]

These big companies need to be spanked...however...

"Verizon must pay a $1.35 million fine..."

Hopefully that doesn't show up in my bill six months down the road from now...

They'll be a new line item insult fee. The "We were caught with our hand in the cookie jar and got a Federal fine recovery fee"

 

[katz]

They'll be a new line item insult fee. The "We were caught with our hand in the cookie jar and got a Federal fine recovery fee"

Of course. All these companies follow suit, and they think we're dumb enough to believe it...plus they know we can't do a darn thing about it.

As an example-

I'm still fuming about my insurance rate increase. You wouldn't believe the line of bull that my auto insurance co. gave me as one of the reasons for the rate increase.

Quote - "Since gas prices are lower, people are driving more and that causes more accidents, so it costs us more to provide coverage...."

So I responded - Okay, so following that logic, when gas prices go back up in a month or so and we all start driving less, then that means our rates go back down, right...?

...dead silence on the other end of the line...

I told her that it looks like it's time for me to start shopping insurance companies again.


...I'm in good hands...

 

[ohio_grad_06]

I've been with Geico and have been reasonably happy. I switched from State Farm a few years back and it seems to have been a decent savings. Esurance also seems reasonable, but never have done business with them, so can't tell you how they treat you with a claim. For that matter, same with Geico. Since I've not had to ever file one, hopefully that is a continuing trend.