WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today called for increased transparency and disclosure for online advertising during a hearing on broadband providers and consumer privacy.

The hearing focused on whether Internet service providers (ISP) are tracking their customers’ Internet usage and selling that information to advertisers.  Unlike individual websites which generally only know what users are doing on their particular website, an ISP providing the connection has the potential ability to see everything a user does on the Internet. 

“While many advertising opportunities now on the Internet are good for the economy and good for business, consumers must be informed about what online entities are doing with their personal information,” said Senator Hutchison.  “Many, especially in our rural areas, depend on broadband for commerce, as well as healthcare and education.  People are putting more of their personal information online, and transparency and disclosure are very important.”

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