The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued an Order to File a Special Report to seven Internet broadband providers in the U.S., requesting information on how the companies “collect, retain, use and disclose information about consumers and their devices.”

According to its press release, the FTC “is initiating this study to better understand Internet service providers’ privacy practices in light of the evolution of telecommunications companies into vertically integrated platforms that also provide advertising-supported content.”

The requested information includes:

• The categories of personal information collected about consumers or their devices, including the purpose for which the information is collected or used; the techniques for collecting such information; whether the information collected is shared with third parties; internal policies for access to such data; and how long the information is retained;
• Whether the information is aggregated, anonymized or de-identified;
• Copies of the companies’ notices and disclosures to consumers about their data collection practices;
• Whether the companies offer consumers choices about the collection, retention, use and disclosure of personal information, and whether the companies have denied or degraded service to consumers who decline to opt-in to data collection; and
• Procedures and processes for allowing consumers to access, correct, or delete their personal information.

The five-page order and three-page attachment of definitions is very comprehensive. The companies have 45 days to provide their responses.

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