Protect Our Internet Privacy

From Indivisible Guide:

Last week, when everyone was focused on health care, some Senate Republicans quietly moved to eliminate privacy protections for internet users as a favor to the cable and telephone industry. S.J. Res. 34, which passed on a party line vote, would roll back Obama-era Federal Communications Commission protections and allow broadband internet service providers like Comcast and Verizon to sell your sensitive internet activity data (including location and web browsing data) to the highest bidder.

The House is scheduled to vote on S.J. Res. 34 on Tuesday, March 28, so there is no time to waste. Call your Representative today and tell them to oppose a rollback of broadband privacy rules.

SAMPLE CALL DIALOGUE

Caller: Good morning/afternoon! Can you let me know [[“Representative Hernandez”]’s] position on S.J.Res. 34, the Congressional Review Act disapproving of the broadband privacy rules?

OPTION 1: OPPOSES S.J.RES. 34.

Staffer: Thank you for calling! [“Representative Hernandez”] supports internet privacy and plans to vote against S.J.Res. 34.

Caller: That’s great! Thank you. I’m pleased to hear that [“Representative Hernandez”] supports privacy for internet users. If [“Representative Hernandez”] is truly concerned about protecting his/her constituents, will s/he also issue a public statement about why this bill is bad for consumers and why s/he is against allowing companies like Comcast and Verizon to sell our data to the highest bidder?

OPTION 2: SUPPORTS S.J.RES. 34.

Staffer: Thank you for calling! [“Representative Hernandez”] supports S.J.Res. 34.

Caller: That’s terrible. I’m disappointed that [“Representative Hernandez”] would choose to look out for Comcast and Verizon rather than his/her constituents. This bill would eliminate critical protections for internet users’ browsing and internet usage data and allow corporations to sell them to the highest bidder.

Staffer: Of course the Representative supports privacy, but this regulation unfairly targets internet service providers while letting websites like Google and Facebook off the hook.

Caller: That’s not the same at all. Internet service providers such as Comcast and Verizon have the ability to collect more consumer data than websites, and many consumers don’t have a choice about their provider. Worse, using S.J.Res. 34 to repeal the protection prevents the Federal Communications Commission from ever writing similar rules.

Why does [“Representative Hernandez”] side with corporations against constituent privacy?

OPTION 3: DODGES / HAS NO POSITION

Staffer: Thank you for calling! I have no idea what the broadband privacy rules are, but I’m happy to take down your concerns.

Caller: That’s disappointing to hear–this is a critical issue that will be voted on this Tuesday. The bill would roll back critical protections that would allow internet service providers such as Comcast and Verizon to sell data about my online activities. Last year the Federal Communications Commission put very sensible rules in place to help ensure consumer privacy, and there is no good reason other than crony capitalism to reverse the rules. Does [“Representative Hernandez”] think it’s more important to listen to Comcast and Verizon than his/her own constituents?

Staffer: I didn’t know that but I’m happy to take down your concerns.

Caller: Here’s my concern: We need and deserve protections for our online activities. Our personal information should not be made available to the highest bidder, and it’s up to Congress to protect us.

Will [“Representative Hernandez”] publicly commit to protecting internet privacy and voting against S.J.Res. 34 on Tuesday?

Staff: I will certainly pass on your concerns to the Representative.

Caller: Please do, and please take down my contact information to let me know when the Representative has made up his/her mind. I’m eager to hear what he/she decides.