Question

1. What is a Super Cookie? How does it work and how does it impact you?
2. Review the Verizon case and determine from a Social Informatics what is at the heart of this issue. Think “My Data…My Data…or Who’s Data?”
3. Construct a table for “My Data” impacted by super cookies and be ready to discuss how it may, can, and will be used for or against you.
4. What about the FCC fine? Is it a fair settlement? Why or why not?
5. What does this have to do with the FCC new ruling and setting Internet Providers free to sell your Data and the role of the FTC the leading U.S. enforcer of privacy and data security ?

Answer 1

Que. What is a Super Cookie? How does it work and how does it impact you?

Ans. 1

A super cookie is a kind of browser cookie that is designed to be permanently stored on a computer of user. Super cookies are mainly more difficult to detect and remove from devices by users because they can't be deleted in the same process as regular cookies.

In a regular cookie, if you don't want it, you can delete your browsing data, your cookies etc. You can block cookies and third-party cookies from your browser, and auto-delete cookies after your browser session ends. You have to log into each site again, and it won't store any item in your shopping cart.

supercookies are different because Clearing your browsing data won't help. This is because a supercookie isn't really a cookie; it is not stored in your browser.

How does it work :-

Rather an ISP inserts a piece of information unique to a user's connection into the HTTP header. The information uniquely identifies any device. In Verizon case it allowed tracking website visited. Because the ISP injects the supercookie between the device and the server it is connecting too, there's nothing the user can do about it. You cannot delete it, because it isn't stored on your device. Ad and script blocking software cannot stop it, because it happens after the request leaves the device.

how does it impact you :-

Supercookies can impact by collecting a wide array of data on users' personal internet browsing habits including the websites users visit and the time they visit them. It does'nt matter which browser is being used or if users switch the browser. Supercookies can also access information collected by traditional tracking cookies -- including login information, cached images and files and plug-in data -- and store that information even if the traditional cookie has been deleted. Each supercookie can be the size of 100 KB.

Que. What about the FCC fine? Is it a fair settlement? Why or why not?

Ans.  The Federal Communications Commission control and regulates international communications and inter-state by , tv radio,satellite, and cable in 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories. An independent U.S. government agency overseen by Congress, the Commission is the federal agency responsible for implementing and enforcing America’s communications law and regulations.

On June 9, 2020, the FCC announced a proposed $225 million fine, the largest in the history of the FCC, against various duals for telemarketing violations.

The FCC claimed that John C. Spiller and Jakob A. Mears made over one billion spoofed robocalls to sell health insurance plans under a variety of business names including Rising Eagle and JSquared Telecom. The robocalls wrongly claimed to offer health insurance plans from major insurers but instead were sold by entities not affiliated in any way with those insurers. In addition, the robocalls knowingly targeted (1) consumers on the federal Do Not Call list in violation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (“TCPA”) and (2) wireless consumers without first obtaining prior consent. Several state attorneys general have also filed suit against the same individuals and companies in federal court.

The FCC’s proposed fine, which is known as a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture, is not final, and the accused parties have the opportunity to respond to the allegations and submit evidence on their behalf.

The lodged  record $225 million fine eclipses the telemarketing settlement against Dish Network in 2017 in terms of the amount proposed to be awarded to the federal government. That settlement, which was recently upheld by the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals but remanded for reconsideration of damages, proposed to award $168 million to the federal government, with the rest going to several states.