Happy Hump Day! Your private internet data is about to be for sale!

Remember how Trump's entire campaign was essentially centered around protecting the American people? Well he's probably going to sign legislation that will allow major corporations to share and sell your private internet activity without your consent. 

[Insert 'Trump loves to do things without people's consent' joke here].

After being pushed through the Senate earlier this month, the House of Representatives passed a bill yesterday that will roll back Obama-era rules that protect citizens' browsing history, financial and health data, and personal information online.

Obama's legislation, put into place last year, mandated that internet service providers like Comcast, Verizon, Cox, Time Warner, and AT&T, ask for opt-in consent before selling sensitive information to advertisers. 

Republicans argue that there should be no difference between ISPs and internet-based companies like Google and Facebook, who track and profit from consumer data on their respective websites. 

The Verge explains the major distinction is that the internet-based sites like Facebook only track user information on their website and sites connected to it, whereas ISPs, like Time Warner, can track anything you do online while using their service. 

[anad]

This means major corporations will be able to sell advertisers information on the websites you visit, the apps you use, your search history, the content of your e-mails, and your health and financial data. 

Again, without your consent. 

So if you already thought you were being bombarded by creepily specific ads on Facebook and Google, it's about to get a whole lot worse. Luckily, Vice News has put together a comprehensive guide to choosing a VPN (virtual private network), which can offer protection from surveillance and data collection.

Trump has already killed much needed Obama-era climate regulations, and it's expected he will happily sign the internet privacy legislations into law today. After attending a panel on women's empowerment. [INSERT MASSIVE EYE ROLL HERE].

katiejoyofosho

I guess it's time to pull a Ron Swanson and get off the grid. It was nice knowing you.