The Federal Communications Commission's revised proposal for privacy rules is "counterproductive" and would hinder broadband providers' ability "to succeed in the developing marketplace" of
online advertising, six major ad organizations say in comments to regulators.
The new proposal, unveiled last week by FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, would require broadband providers to obtain
consumers' opt-in consent before drawing on their Web browsing and app usage history for ad targeting.
"This proposal would upend the established and thriving Internet economy, which relies on
the support of data-driven advertising," the American Association of Advertising Agencies, American Advertising Federation, Association of National Advertisers, Direct Marketing Association,
Interactive Advertising Bureau, and Network Advertising Initiative say in comments filed Monday with the FCC.
"There is no record of consumer harm to justify treating web viewing and
application use history as sensitive or for it to be subject to opt-in consent," the groups add.
The FCC's privacy rules would apply to Internet service providers like Time Warner and Comcast,
but not to search engines, social networking services or other providers of so-called "edge" services.
Wheeler's proposal differs significantly from the ad industry's privacy code, which
generally calls for online companies to allow consumers to opt out of receiving targeted ads based on Web-surfing data. The ad industry requires companies to seek opt-in consent from consumers before
drawing on "sensitive" data, but defines that concept relatively narrowly; the industry's definition includes financial account information, geolocation data and certain types of healthcare
information.
The ad groups also say the FCC should give the public a "meaningful opportunity" to weigh in on the new proposal before moving forward.
"The Commission has not released
the text of the new approach for public review and comment," the groups argue. "This process is insufficient in light of the significant impact and unprecedented nature of the proposed approach to
regulating online data."
The FCC's prior proposed privacy rules also would have limited broadband providers' ability to engage in online behavioral advertising. That prior proposal would have
required broadband providers to obtain users' opt-in consent before using data about their Web activity for ad targeting.