https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/4awg5g/asian-achievers-gay-how-isps-label-customers-for-advertisers

A new FTC report has revealed that ISPs collect and sell a horrifying amount of sensitive data about their customers. The report also revealed that ISPs categorize people by their browsing data to make it easier for advertisers to target consumers directly using highly specific, sometimes bizarre, and generally concerning categories. The list of categories included examples such as “viewership-gay,” “Jewish,” and “Gospel and Grits.”

Targeted advertising based on browsing data isn’t new, it’s how Facebook and Google make the bulk of their profits, but the FTC report revealed the level of involvement ISPs have in the process. “Several of the ISPs in our study have the ability to target consumers on a granular basis, because unlike many other entities, these ISPs have access to each of the websites a consumer visits, and they can target based on subscriber information,” the report said. “At least three ISPs report combining consumers’ personal information, app usage, and/or browning information for advertising purposes.”