Legislation signed into law Monday by President Donald Trump removes certain privacy protections for Internet users—a move welcomed by telecommunications industry associations that said the rules were confusing and unnecessary.

The bill, supported mainly by Republicans, eliminates Obama-era rules preventing Internet service providers from obtaining customers' consent before selling their personal information, such as Web browsing histories. The information can be used to tailor advertising to specific users.

Privacy groups cried foul, but industry groups welcomed the president's action.

"Every aspect of our mobile-first economy and 5G future requires consumer trust," said Meredith Attwell Baker, CEO of CTIA-The Wireless Association. "Longstanding privacy policies of wireless carriers remain unchanged and intact. CTIA commends President Trump for restoring a technology-neutral framework to privacy and data security that will help ensure careful, consistent treatment of consumer data by all companies."

USTelecom CEO Jonathan Spalter said the Obama-era rules "created a confusing and conflicting consumer privacy framework."

"Consumers deserve and expect one consistent set of online privacy protections and this action helps clear the way for a more uniform approach across the entire Internet ecosystem," he said.

Privacy groups promised to fight on despite the apparent setback. The Electronic Frontier Foundation urged state lawmakers and technology providers to shore up privacy protections "until Congress is ready to listen to the consumers who don't want to trade away their basic privacy rights in order to access the Internet."

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