US Congress votes to repeal Obama privacy protections
Barack Obama's introduction of several internet privacy provisions shortly before his departure from the Oval Office has been reversed by the US Congress following a vote on Tuesday.
The US Senate voted along party lines to repeal the protections, and the House of Representatives affirmed the decision, which will prevent the regulations from coming into effect.
The final decision will now rest with President Donald Trump, after a week in which he faced rejection from a Republican-controlled Congress over his proposals for healthcare reform.
Regulations put forward by the Obama administration included requiring internet service providers to ask for permission from customers about collecting and sharing data.
Opponents to the laws suggest that broadband providers would face an undue burden in comparison with other large internet firms such as Facebook and Google, who are currently free to collect data without permission.
Financial markets have been anxious with key legislation on tax reform due to face Congress in the coming weeks
Republican representative Michael Burgess said the repeal of the privacy laws would "level the playing field for an increasingly anti-competitive market."
Those advocating for the approval of the privacy regulations argue that it provides ISPs with access to unnecessary personal information.
"Give me one good reason why Comcast should know what my mother’s medical problems are," said congressman Mike Capuano when the bill was being debated. "Just last week I bought underwear on the internet. Why should you know what size I take? Or the colour?".
Trump has faced a hostile Congress since he took over from Obama in January, despite both legislative chambers being majority-populated by those in his party. Financial markets have been anxious with key legislation on tax reform due to face Congress in the coming weeks.