A California state lawmaker has proposed a bill that would require Internet service providers to allow people to cancel service via an online platform. "You've seen the ads from companies that advertise the ease of signing up for their cable or Internet service over the Web," Assemblyman Mike Gatto stated Wednesday. "However, if individuals decide to cancel those same services, they're often forced to suffer through infuriating, time-consuming phone calls, often spending hours on hold."

CNBC's Web site accidentally shared people's passwords with ad networks earlier this week. The site offered an interactive tool that allowed people to enter passwords, in order to test their security. But the site wasn't encrypted, which meant that third-party ad networks present on the page -- including Google's DoubleClick -- also received them.

Photographer Jennifer Rondinelli Reilly has filed a copyright lawsuit against Instagram, for allegedly failing to take down copies of her photos. Reilly alleges that she unsuccessfully sent dozens of takedown requests to Instagram.  

A Senate committee has asked a federal judge in Washington to enforce a subpoena requiring Backpage to answer questions about the site's role in sex trafficking. The case is the first of its kind in 20 years, according to The National Law Journal

AT&T is increasing its data caps on home Internet service, but also expanding enforcement of policies requiring customers to pay overages for exceeding the caps. The new caps for U-Verse users will range from 300 GB to 1 TB, depending on the speed of the connection. People who exceed the maximum will be charged $10 for each 50 GB. Broadband-only customers can purchase unlimited data for an extra $30 a month, and people who purchase AT&T broadband and TV subscriptions will receive unlimited home broadband data.

Executives representing broadband companies are voicing objections to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler's proposed privacy regulations, which would require broadband providers to obtain people's opt-in consent before using data about their Web-surfing activity for ad purposes. “The idea that the ISP has this singular view of everything you do is outdated,” Debbie Matties, formerly of the FTC but now an executive with The CTIA, said at a recent panel discussion.

Google Fiber will launch a high-speed fiber network in Salt Lake City before the end of the year, the company now says. Google has already opened a storefront in Trolley Square to promote the new fast broadband service.

The American Cable Association wants the FCC to investigate Netflix for showing down mobile video streams for consumers on AT&T and Verizon. "ACA is disappointed, but not surprised, that Netflix used its immunity from the FCC's Net Neutrality rules to engage in this practice," the organization stated. The ACA is urging the FCC to investigate whether the practices of Netflix and other so-called "edge providers" can threaten the open Internet.

AT&T has applied to patent a technology that would target ads to people based on their "mood." "Many AT&T patents, like its plan for technology that auto-detects and removes pirated content, never see real-world implementation," writes DSLReports. "Still, a company that's fighting consumer privacy protections while simultaneously building technology to watch your every mood -- isn't what you'd call comforting."

Comcast customers are now trashing the company in reviews on Amazon, which is now letting Comcast sell broadband, TV and voice on the site. The vast majority of reviews -- 88% -- for Comcast's 10 Mbps broadband service are bad, according to DSLReports.