AT&T to end targeted ads program, give all users lowest available price

TheWindBringeth · Sep 30, 2016

http://arstechnica.com/information-...program-give-all-users-lowest-available-price

“To simplify our offering for our customers, we plan to end the optional Internet Preferences advertising program related to our fastest Internet speed tiers," an AT&T spokesperson confirmed to Ars today. "As a result, all customers on these tiers will receive the best rate we have available for their speed tier in their area. We’ll begin communicating this update to customers early next week.”
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Even as AT&T plans to end Internet Preferences, it has spoken out against the FCC's proposed regulations, arguing that ISPs shouldn't face stricter rules than websites like Google and Facebook.
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Fearing Regulators, AT&T Stops Charging Extra for Privacy
https://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Fearing-Regulators-ATT-Stops-Charging-Extra-for-Privacy-138008

With the company no longer charging a premium for privacy, it seems likely AT&T's lobbyists will try to argue that the FCC's privacy protections aren't necessary.

The problem with that logic is that for years, broadband ISPs have claimed they can self-regulate on privacy without real consumer protections. But large ISPs consistently prove they're terrible at self-regulation -- whether it's AT&T's decision to charge significantly more for privacy, or Verizon and AT&T's attempt to modify wireless user data packets to track customers around the internet (in place at Verizon for two years before security researchers even realized it existed).
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So while it's clear AT&T and other incumbent ISPs would prefer no new privacy protections for consumers, their track record on being able to police themselves without outside intervention remains historically abysmal. And without decent privacy protections in place, the lack of competition (read: the ability for consumers to leave an ISP if it engages in unpopular privacy practices) means AT&T's next "good idea" could be decidedly worse than the program it just dismantled.
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Oleg · Oct 1, 2016

AT&T has aggressive marketing for sure. And it seems like there is noway to stop this.
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seti · Oct 11, 2016

I have been with att for years. I know they have a track record on me and anyone else that uses att. At the time I remembered my phone was being tapped too. Their NSA honeypot is located in the San Francisco servers and also somewhere in Texas. This and also they don't even have money to pay their workers and some of their local workers are on strike where I live. You can limit the spying with custom hosts file, secure browser, adblockers such as ublock origin, euro vpn's at least, tor, proxy chains and cascades.

I thought about switching to comcast, but they don't offer it in my area, and besides I don't think it would matter anyway.

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AT&T to end targeted ads program, give all users lowest available price

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AT&T to end targeted ads program, give all users lowest available price

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