Maine Lawmakers Send One Of The Country's Toughest Internet Privacy Proposals To The Governor's Desk

Maine could soon have the toughest internet privacy law in the country.

This week the Legislature sent a bill to Democratic Gov. Janet Mills that would prohibit internet service providers such as Spectrum, Verizon and AT&T from selling their customers' data without consent. The fight over the bill has been intense — and expensive. One provider even attempted to enlist its employees to urge lawmakers not to pass it.

The bill stands out from other state privacy bills because internet service providers, known as ISPs, would have to ask their customers permission to use and sell their private data. Other state laws require customers to opt-out.

"I think that when you send an email or conduct an online search that should be private,” says Democratic state Sen. Shenna Bellows, of Manchester. “It's your information, not your internet service provider's information.”

Read more: https://www.mainepublic.org/post/maine-lawmakers-send-one-countrys-toughest-internet-privacy-proposals-governor-s-desk