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Parliamentary question - E-004780/2016Parliamentary question
E-004780/2016

Data use and insight into user activity through webmail and messaging, social networks, search engines and Internet-based advertising

Question for written answer E-004780-16
to the Commission
Rule 130
Ramon Tremosa i Balcells (ALDE) , Andreas Schwab (PPE)

In its opinion No 4/2016, the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) requests clarification on the roles of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in relation to Internet service providers (ISPs). In March 2016, the FCC put forward privacy protection proposals for the ISP sector. However, these rules do not apply to over-the-top service providers (OTTs), which handle most user-generated data. This does not reflect how the Internet works and goes against the Commission's new proposals.

The FCC seems to be choosing a heavier regulatory approach for ISPs than for American edge providers, considering that several European ISPs are active in the US[1][2].

As non-ISPs have unique insight into user activity through webmail, messaging, search engines etc., dominate in cross-context tracking through social networks, and dominate in cross-device tracking through smartphones: