Financial Times reports the biggest U.S. cable and telecommunications companies are lobbying for a relaxation of privacy rules to allow them to sell data on customers’ telephone use. The companies want to be regulated more like private companies such as Google and Facebook rather than public utilities, arguing the regulatory landscape hasn’t kept pace with technological advances. The change, which would require new legislation, would transfer oversight of the companies from the Federal Communications Commission to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). FTC Privacy and Identity Protection Associate Director Maneesha Mithal supports the shift, saying current law seems “gerrymandered to have a carve-out on mobile.” Not everyone agrees. (Registration may be required to access this story.)
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