Comcast Says It Wants to Charge Broadband Users More For Privacy

[Tackhisis]

I don't understand how ISP is related to "privacy".

[Lady Dragonheart]

While you might be joking, do you feel the same way about advertising/tracking companies knowing everywhere you go on the internet?

Actually, I prefer it when it comes to shopping and planning.

What if they also added in data about everywhere you go in real life?

That doesn't bother me, either. If it can benefit me in saving me time, effort, and/or money. I could care less.

Also the "nothing to hide" argument is only relevant if the only concern with being constantly monitored is potential legal liability (which it's not), and if the entities hoping to bring a case against you can be trusted to be completely honest and accurate in their representation of the details of that case (which they can't). You should never be willing to give up your privacy just because you have "nothing to hide." Your privacy keeps your identity and financial details safe. Your privacy protects your freedom of thought, association and expression. Your privacy protects you from harassment. And it protects you from tyranny. Privacy is way too valuable to give up just because you have nothing to hide.

By that point, my only issue would be compromised security. If someone, say, a terrorist, wanted to make a name by stealing data about me and selling it to third party, generally hostile entities. Then, I would have an issue. However, then I would also expect degrees of quality assurance for such things, as well as programs in place for prevention and damage control, as well as quick response.

Some future manifestation of "tyranny" isn't something that I concern myself with as long as it doesn't effect by ability to earn and spend my money in the lawful ways that I do. The way that I see it, it wouldn't bother me. I don't do or act in any way that it generally unlawful, nor do I plan to.

[Mistame]

If you have nothing to hide, then it shouldn't matter, I would assume.

Privacy isn't about hiding stuff you shouldn't be doing. It's about have the right to keep private what you want kept private. It's a bit of a strange analogy, but it's like saying, "Taking a shit is natural so all toilets should be in public." I don't want someone in the restroom with me, not even my SO, regardless of if I'm showering, shitting or brushing my teeth and similarly, anything I don't offer publicly should be assumed to be private.

On-Topic: Comcast has always been a vulture. This level of despicable isn't even surprising. It's just what they do. Hell, even WWE has advertisements on their paid service. It's fucking bullshit and I've told them as much. Once I finish with the old Raw stuff, I'm cancelling my subscription.

[endersblade]

I just found out about the data caps. I went to log into my account to check it out, and they are forcing me to change my password - and I have to fucking chat or call these douche canoes to get a 'reset code' so I can fucking change my password.

I should be moving in the next couple of months. When I do, I don't care WHO I go to next, I'm dropping Comcast. This company is such fucking bullshit sometimes.

[Arewn]

They've got it backwards.
If they want to pay me for rights to my private information, I might partake.
They do not (or should not) have any rights to my private information, and by extent should not be allowed to negotiate using it as a bargaining chip for their product/service's price.

[kail]

Why would they care? People are still paying for their services.

Not like some of us have a choice. For me, it's either Comcast or....AT&T.

My Internet choices feel even worse than the 2016 election, I'm actually forced to "vote" between one of the two evils. FML.

[Sunseeker]

It's sort of strange backwards logic that we should have to pay a company for access to its digital roads and then pay them more money for them not to track our every movement while on them.

[the game]

Not like some of us have a choice. For me, it's either Comcast or....AT&T.

My Internet choices feel even worse than the 2016 election, I'm actually forced to "vote" between one of the two evils. FML.

regardless of choices my point still stands. As long as people keep paying for their services they have no reason to stop being bastards.

[Adam Jensen]

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/C...Privacy-137567



These fucking guys. No other comment necessary.

It's like the CEO of Comcast wakes up each morning and asks himself "how can I make people hate my company even more?"

- - - Updated - - -

Hey guys capitalism is great because when companies have monopolies like comcast they can do shit like this!

A prime example of why I can't stand libertarians.

This, libertarians, is why the "Free Market" isn't a solution to everything.

[Omians]

It amazes me that Comcast does not care how hated it is as a company for its predatory practices. If it weren't for the anti-competition policies that keep their semi-monopoly going, they'd easily go out of business. My hope is that consumers will eventually become so fed up they'll demand a change in legal policy that will hopefully dismantle that virus of a company.

but. but if its dismantled we will lose out on all the funny stories of Superbowl Channel Mixups with porn. what are they up to now 5 events?

[Krawu]

"What we need is less government meddling so that the economy can grow!!"

Yup. This is exactly when a business needs government intervention. Unchecked capitalism isn't a good thing, you can't trust corporations to act in the best interest of the people.

This is extortion, pure and simple. If the system was still working, someone should be going to jail for even attempting this.

[enragedgorilla]

Google Fiber please.

While I am with you on that ...if this is saying Google would be any better about "privacy" ....ehhhh, I am under no such delusion.
I know Google fiber would ...do what google does normally just faster.

[Deleted]

It's so weird that the most powerful and one of the most advanced countries in the world, the country that created the internet, doesn't have proper internet providers. Yet I live in a small town, in a backwater eastern european country and I have at least 4 different providers of up to 100mbits symmetric unlimited internet. How is that a thing?!

[Slant]

It's so weird that the most powerful and one of the most advanced countries in the world, the country that created the internet, doesn't have proper internet providers. Yet I live in a small town, in a backwater eastern european country and I have at least 4 different providers of up to 100mbits symmetric unlimited internet. How is that a thing?!

Because the evil EU is ruining Europe with all their silly consumer protection laws. Ruining it!

[zealo]

Are they really trying to argue that not being able to charge your customers a gouging level premium is harmful to consumers? That's certainly one hell of a corporate spin being done there.

[Deleted]

Because the evil EU is ruining Europe with all their silly consumer protection laws. Ruining it!

Honestly though things have been so much better since we joined the EU, it's ridiculous!

[Zenotetsuken]

It is awful for me here, my choices are Comcast, or Century Link.
The ONLY speed in my area that Century Link even offers however is 1.5mbps DSL... even on their website the only thing they have to say about it is that is is a "great speed" for email.
So my only actual option is Comcast.

[unbound]

It amazes me that Comcast does not care how hated it is as a company for its predatory practices. If it weren't for the anti-competition policies that keep their semi-monopoly going, they'd easily go out of business. My hope is that consumers will eventually become so fed up they'll demand a change in legal policy that will hopefully dismantle that virus of a company.

Comcast is just more open about its disdain towards customers compared to most corporations. There are very, very, very few corporations that actually care about customers beyond their wallets. Most corporations just try to put veneers on their front to make it look like they care.

Keep in mind that the majority of anti-competition policies were lobbied for by corporations. For all their talk of competition, the absolute last thing any corporation wants is actual competition. The biggest barrier to Google fiber being rolled out faster and in more places are laws created because Comcast et al have been running to cities, counties and states to get such legislation enacted.

[DJ117]

Oh god you Americans have it rough with your ISPs. EU have many laws in place that keeps internet neutral, private and affordable here. I pay 35 USD a month for 100 mbit unlimited.

[Belize]

ISPs are literally cancer, news at 11.