Charter backs off from tracking subscribers
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI based US cable company Charter Communications had second thoughts about tracking its Internet subscribers' online activities after receiving a letter from two US Congressmen expressing their concerns regarding the legality of its plans.
The company told its subscribers last month that it intended to start monitoring their web searches and what webpages they visit and replacing online ads based upon their interests.
Charter's customer tracking plans immediately drew strong criticism from consumer rights and online privacy advocates including The Consumerist, Free Press and Public Knowledge.
Within a few days, US Representatives Ed Markey (D-MA) and Joe Barton (R-TX), both members of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, sent a letter to Charter President and CEO Neil Smit reminding Charter of certain privacy provisions of the Communications Act of 1934 that were applied to cable television operators as part of the Cable Act of 1984 and extended to also cover "other services", that is, cable Internet Service Providers (ISPs), by the Cable Television and Consumer Protection Act in 1992.
Although cordial and lawyerly, the message of the legislators' letter was clear: Charter, the nations fourth largest ISP, could find itself called before Congress if it went ahead with its plans to sell information about its subscribers' Internet traffic to advertisers.
Free Press and Public Knowledge then issued a report that denounced Charter's planned partnership with Nebuad to sell its subscribers' Internet interest profiles to advertisers.
The consumer advocacy groups' report said the Nebuad system uses a "browser exploit" and "commandeers users' Web browsers" through "a classic man-in-the-middle attack."
Charter has wisely decided to delay its plans to implement tracking of its subscribers' online activities. After learning of Charter's decision, congressman Ed Markey said:
"Given the serious privacy concerns raised by the sophisticated ad-serving technology Charter Communications planned to test the market, I am pleased to hear that the company has decided to delay implementation of this program, which electronically profiled individual consumer web usage. I urge other broadband companies considering similar user-profiling programs to similarly hold off on implementation while these important privacy concerns can be addressed."
Charter and other major ISPs haven't canceled their plans in this direction, though, so consumer rights and online privacy advocates will need to remain alert and vigilant. ยต
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Charter
wants to track users and replace online adverts
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Finally those hacks in Washington did something constructive and it seems they did their homework too, I am sure some smart intern did the research for them.
Jeez Louise! I just want an ISP to give me unfettered access to the internet. Is that too much to ask for now a days?

I wasn't always a proponent for "Net Neutrality" regulation, but as more stories like this come out, I'm thinking we may need it.

PLEASE someone start up an national US ISP that has some integrity for the customer. Just imagine how many people would switch over to your company if you just promised to serve up the internet, and only the internet.

Charter... die in a fire please.

The telcos just got the green light to expand surveillance full throttle. Why wouldn't Charter back off? Now, they track for Bush, get paid, and use the info with no regard for privacy. Best is the part where they can no longer be sued. You can thank the Democrats for this little ditty.