New underwear. Addiction services. Study tips. Relationship advice. What’s the last thing you searched for online?

Soon the highest bidder will be able to buy that information, and more. Congress has just voted to eliminate privacy protections for Internet Service Provider (ISP) customers, including kids.

At this point we’re just out of adjectives. But here’s a verb: ACT.

Join us in telling President Trump to protect our kids by vetoing this bill & telling Congress to strengthen, not weaken protections.

Here’s the deal: Your ISP can see everything you do online, from the websites you visit, to the apps you use, to the substance of your emails.

Pretty Orwellian, right? But we as consumers had some protection. In 2016, the Federal Communications Commission passed important privacy safeguards setting limits on what ISPs can do with the data they collect from users. The rule required ISPs get approval from customers before sharing any of this information - including on finances, health, location, etc. - and that they share their practices for protecting customer privacy. [1]

The safeguards also required ISPs to protect our information from cyber-attacks, and let customers know when it’s been compromised. [2]

But all of those protections are under attack. On Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives narrowly voted to reverse all of this. Say hello to the highest bidder now knowing what favorite Pokemon your son is googling, or the top summer swimsuit trends or recipes you’re searching for online! Or, what you’re emailing a close friend.

Let’s apply some parent pressure that can’t be ignored. Join us to tell President Trump to VETO THIS BILL and demand Congress protect, not destroy our privacy.

And here’s where it gets even scarier. Think about how that information can and will be used. Here’s a summary: Companies will sell the data so marketers can profile your family and kids, targeting you even more effectively with products and services.

You’ve heard us here at MomsRising talk about this issue when it comes to marketing junk food to kids. Tens of thousands of you have taken action in recent years to demand companies stop pushing unhealthy food and drinks on our kids when we’re not around. THIS IS HOW THEY DO IT FOLKS. This data is exactly what they use to know where your child is, what he/she likes, and how to exploit his/her vulnerabilities to make a sale. These protections are critical for protecting our kids’ privacy.

As one expert stated “The FCC Privacy Rules protect the fundamental rights of children to enjoy the privacy and freedom from age-inappropriate commercial exploitation. Any attempts to weaken these rules is an attempt to leave parents and their children defenseless against powerful corporate interests. Digital food marketing of unhealthy foods to children and teens, for example, has contributed to an obesity epidemic that harms us all…” [3] 

Here’s the kind of information that will go to the highest bidder [4]: 

• Browsing history
• Location and time of communications
• Message content, including texts
• Video-on-demand history
• Information related to finances or health
• Social security numbers 

Friends, we think you understand how scary that is.

Join us in telling President Trump to stand up for our kids now and veto this bill, and in demanding Congress protect, not destroy, our privacy.

And here’s the nail in the coffin: The bill could cripple future attempts to protect our privacy online, too. Say goodbye to your personal information today, tomorrow, forever? It’s just too bad to be true. [5]

It’s time the President and Congress stand up for regular people like us, not companies seeking to sell our most personal information. Please join us in taking action TODAY. The President could sign this bill at any moment, and we need to speak out quickly. Then please share this action with family and friends, so they can take action too.

Thank you!

[1] Consumer, Privacy and Children’s Advocates Oppose Attempts by Industry to Eliminate Privacy Protections of all ISP Customers, Including Children, Center for Digital Democracy. March 7, 2017.

[2] Don’t Repeal Common-Sense Privacy Rules, by Eric Null, Open Technology Institute. March 27, 2017. New America Foundation

Additional information:

A Big Win for Commercial Surveillance on the Internet -- a Gigantic Loss for Democracy, Katharina Kopp, Center for Digital Democracy. March 30, 2017.

U.S. Privacy Dealt Major Set-back as Broadband Protections are Overturned by Congress, Jeff Chester, Center for Digital Democracy. March 29, 2017.