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President Donald Trump expected to sign bill putting internet browser history on sale

Posted at 6:36 PM, Mar 29, 2017
and last updated 2017-03-29 21:47:26-04

President Donald Trump is expected to sign a bill overturning internet privacy protections. 

Arizona Senator Jeff Flake's bill would take apart the Federal Communications Commission rules set to begin later this year for broadband providers required to get permission before gathering a user's online data.

"Technically there is a legal gap now so its true that at this point the FCC privacy rule is to be dismantled there is no privacy enforcement mechanism for internet service providing companies," said Jane Bambauer, a University of Arizona Associate Professor of Law.

Bambauer predicts if the bill is signed, more opted out options will be available for a price. 

"Some ISP companies currently do offer two different price services so that basically the privacy sensitive consumer can pay more to get the same type of service, but without the data collection," she explained. 

Internet service providers collect a user's geographic location and what sites you are visiting.

If you delete your history, that won't erase companies from getting your information. 

However, Bambauer says any sensitive information typed into a secure online form will not collected.

She says companies are interested in packaging and selling user data to get a new revenue stream, but predicts the direct effect on consumers will be more tailored advertising.