The biggest US cable and telecommunications companies including Comcast and Verizon came out for the change of rules of state regulations in the sphere of mobile communications. According to The Financial Times, mobile phone operators will get more freedom with private clients’ information. Proponents of the suggestion, say the move would simplify an antiquated regulatory structure that has not kept pace with the changing media landscape. Traditional media companies face tougher restrictions than their new media rivals even though the services they offer are becoming increasingly similar. It would allow these traditional companies to be treated equally to Google and Facebook, and not like public utilities. On the other hand, critics are sure the main aim is to get right to sell personal data.
Such a shift means that the Federal Trade Commission would be in control of mobile phone operators, not the Federal Communications Commission, as it is now. Experts say the FTC, which has brought privacy cases against Google and Facebook, is an agency that has tried to be an effective privacy enforcer but has limited power.
The information came amid heightened concern about government privacy policies following a flurry of leaks by Edward Snowden, a former contractor for the National Security Agency. In particular, it turned out that Google, Facebook, Apple, Microsoft, Skype, etc provided US government with users’ communications. Mentioned earlier Verizon was among the corporations cooperating with the government in the framework of the surveillance programs.