In a powerful blow to people's privacy, the US Congress on Tuesday upheld a Senate-led bill that allows Internet providers to market users' search histories. The approval, which has the support of the White House, is a triumph for the big telecommunications companies.
The Senate and House of Representatives, both controlled by President Donald Trump's Republican Party, approved last week and Tuesday to repeal a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulatory text dating from 2016 that had not yet entered in force.
The controversial law went ahead with 215 votes in favor, all Republican, and 205 against, those of all Democrats with 13 Republicans.
The Republicans who voted for it argued that this step was necessary to remove previous regulations that they considered excessive, but they have not submitted the legislation to debate nor they have held hearings in the committees corresponding to the sector nor have received the testimony of experts.
Civil rights associations have ensured that the annulment of this rule will allow the uncontrolled dissemination of personal data, such as browsing history, which may reveal religious beliefs, political affiliations, sexual orientations, health status or geographical information of users .
"This information is among the most intimate in a person's life. Consumers should be able to control what companies do "with them, said Natasha Duarte of the Center for Democracy and Technology.
The text, which augments further deregulation of the telecommunications sector in the United States, has been approved in less than a month.
New FCC President Ajit Pai, appointed in January by Donald Trump, said he was satisfied with the parliamentary decision and recalled that in 2016 he had opposed the adoption of the now void rule.