Internet privacy needs protection
Aided by the Congress, President Donald Trump struck a blow this week for high-tech freedom and against individuals’ privacy on the internet.
Perhaps the Other Washington can strike back. Democratic state Sen. Kevin Ranker of Orcas Island and Republican Sen. Joe Fain of Auburn moved quickly to introduce legislation this week called the Washington Internet Privacy Act.
Fain and Ranker want to use the state Consumer Protection Act to block an internet service provider from collecting “identifiable, personal information without the customer’s permission.”
Trump signed the congressional resolution Monday, rolling back a Federal Communications Commission rule in the works from the Obama era. It would have kept broadband providers from selling information they have on customers’ online history.
Internet providers, or ISPs, had argued that Google and Facebook are able to collect data on users and use it to target advertising to users. Broadband providers wanted similar opportunities.
The federal move lets browsing data to be sold to the highest bidder.
Both of our state’s U.S. senators, Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, opposed the legislation, but to no avail.
Fortunately, major providers Comcast and Verizon were quick to announce they do not sell customers’ personal browsing histories and have no plans to do so. That is the right move.
Meanwhile, Ranker and Fain say 32 lawmakers signed on to their proposal, Senate Bill 5919. That is nearly two-thirds of the Senate and a clear sign that the issue hits a nerve.
Consumer privacy hangs by a thread in the online era. The administration’s action nails open the door for ongoing intrusions on privacy without consumers having a say in whether to opt in or out.
Consumers need options.
HATE CRIMES UNWELCOME
Olympia police have closed their investigation into the spray-paint vandalism of vehicles three weeks ago at a westside apartment complex. One message contained a pejorative directed at African Americans, and the incident is being looked at as a hate crime.
There is no place in our community for this kind of attack, and police were taking it seriously despite a lack of suspects. A week ago, investigators followed a lead involving one person, but that came to naught.However, the case would reopen if new leads are found.
There have been other Olympia incidents in the past year. Police spokesman Paul Lower noted there was an assault with a knife on a black man as he walked with a white woman in the downtown area last year. The suspect charged with that assault had tattoos depicting “white power” and “skinhead.” Another attack was against two persons leaving a drag show.
Police are asking the public to call 360-753-8300 if anyone has information about the March 12 vandalism.
This story was originally published April 5, 2017 at 2:30 PM with the headline "Internet privacy needs protection."