FCC Fines Verizon Over Supercookie Probe

[IInuyasha74]

The FCC announced that it will fine Verizon for its use of a “supercookie” probe to gather data on its service users, which it then sold to other companies for advertising purposes.

FCC Fines Verizon Over Supercookie Probe : Read more

 

[Urzu1000]

"the FCC fined Verizon $1.35 Million"

Looks like Verizon came out ahead on this one.

 

[jeremy2020]

1.35 Million...oh, no, someone had to look in the couch cushions. Toothless. How is this even going to be monitored and enforced?

 

[falchard]

So uhh. When is the fcc going to go after the NSA?

 

[Joe Black]

The thing with these schemes are that they are usually so profitable that a little slap on the wrist will not deter people from going for it. The problem is much more serious that they let on. Of course if people enjoy privacy from companies then people will gripe more about privacy from government... Just saying.

 

[clonazepam]

Verizon's campaign contributions and lobby spending in 2014 was an order of magnitude different than this fine. I don't see how this would ruffle anyone's feathers over at Verizon.

 

[Chris Droste]

the fine should have been $135million (ON HUNDRED AND THIRTY-FIVE)
Verizon probably smiled, shook hands with the FCC and wrote off the loss without any foreseeable impact to their business.

 

[thor220]

This fine is very light, even if they don't realize this isn't the 1950s anymore.

 

[Patrick_Bateman]

Hmm, so when is the FCC going after the NSA, FBI and CIA for their unconstitutional methods of surveillance?

 

[mrmez]

"The FCC carried out a lengthy investigation that began in December 2014"

"would like to acknowledge Verizon Wireless’s cooperation during the course of this investigation"

Yep. Sounds like they fully co-operated.

 

[fixxxer113]

the fine should have been $135million (ON HUNDRED AND THIRTY-FIVE)
Verizon probably smiled, shook hands with the FCC and wrote off the loss without any foreseeable impact to their business.

Dude, don't say that... I heard that they would have to go for a week without soy latte in their office kitchen. Can you imagine the horror??

On a more serious note though, I think that the only way to stop this kind of mass data theft is to consider it legally as espionage. And if you think about it, there is no way of telling where that data can end up and for what use, as we see from the article. This should be a very serious offence against national security.

 

[burtzum]

Not even a slap on the wrist. Shut Verizon down and hand their fiber over to Google!

 

[dark_lord69]

1.35 million! LOL
what is that like a penny per customer?
And how much to they charge for your info? 50 cents per person maybe? Or maybe more? I don't know but I've heard your private information is way more valuable that you would imagine.

 

[techuser1]

1.35 Million? If Verizon made 5 million selling the data why would they stop. Verizon execs are probably laughing at the FCC. Well, at least the FCC is making them change their policy. I guess we'll have to see how that goes.

 

[hoofhearted]

They took this out of petty cash.

 

[tical2399]

Fines should always be more than what was made from the offending action. If they made $20 million for selling that data, the fine should be $30 million.

 

[bikerepairman1]

They should do the same to every site which uses tracking cookies! I have policies here that all cookies are destroyed after closing the tab. Even simple harmless cookies!

 

[f-14]

So uhh. When is the fcc going to go after the NSA?

the NSA is just regulating commerce as per the commerce clause:
Constitution of the United States Article. I.Section. 8.
The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;
.......
To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;