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WhoWoodaKnew

(847 posts)
Mon Apr 3, 2017, 12:09 PM Apr 2017

Can you really buy a congressman's internet history from ISPs?

When the law goes through (if it hasn't already), can you really do that if you have the money? As an IT person I'd like to the specific details related to how one goes about that and what information you'd actually get.

For example, can you go to a person's ISP and say, "Okay, here's the cash. Now I want Joe Doe's Internet History"?

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Can you really buy a congressman's internet history from ISPs? (Original Post) WhoWoodaKnew Apr 2017 OP
There's no way the ISPs would sell you a congressman's info. Salviati Apr 2017 #1
A Congressional term is 2 years. Money is forever. Of course they'd sell it. Vinca Apr 2017 #2
No jberryhill Apr 2017 #3
ISP does not have a person's Internet history HoneyBadger Apr 2017 #4

Salviati

(6,002 posts)
1. There's no way the ISPs would sell you a congressman's info.
Mon Apr 3, 2017, 12:11 PM
Apr 2017

They WANT this law, why would they do anything to jeopardize it?

 

jberryhill

(62,444 posts)
3. No
Mon Apr 3, 2017, 12:33 PM
Apr 2017

They are not opening a service desk where you can get the history of any particular individual.

What they are selling are advertising profiles based on that information.

For example, you sell tampons. There's obviously no point in spending half your advertising budget by delivering ads to men.

If you sell acne medication, you pretty much want insecure teens and people whose history indicates an interest in acne medication.

There is a lot of information in internet history which has value for advertisers to use for the purpose of targeting advertising.

But, no, if you walk into Comcast and say "Here's a check, I want so-and-so's history", you aren't going to get it, and it's not a question of the size of the check.

 

HoneyBadger

(2,297 posts)
4. ISP does not have a person's Internet history
Mon Apr 3, 2017, 12:33 PM
Apr 2017

Since they have no way of knowing what person is using the device attached to the device attached to them. Let's say for instance that I have a cell phone with an unlimited data plan and I install a tethering program which allows everyone in my vicinity to attach via a variety of methods and download whatever. And the bill is run through a business that requires their clients be businesses. Where does Joe Doe come into play?

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