Two influential lawmakers from different political parties have collaborated on a new legislation aimed at enhancing privacy protections for Americans' personal data. The proposed bill, announced on Sunday, defines privacy as a consumer right and introduces regulations for companies that collect and utilize personal information.
The bipartisan effort comes from the offices of a Democratic Senator and a Republican Representative, both representing Washington state. The Senator chairs the Senate Commerce Committee, while the Representative leads the House Energy and Commerce Committee, indicating significant bipartisan support for the bill.
While the legislation is still in draft form and has not been formally introduced, it addresses long-standing concerns about safeguarding personal data shared with various businesses and services. The proposed bill emphasizes the importance of consumer consent before companies can collect or transfer specific types of information.
Key provisions of the bill include requirements for companies to inform consumers about data collection and retention policies, obtain consumer permission for significant changes, and ensure that algorithms analyzing personal data are unbiased. Additionally, companies engaged in buying and selling personal data would need to register with the Federal Trade Commission.
Under the proposed legislation, consumers would have more control over the use of their data, including the ability to opt out of targeted advertisements based on personal data. The bill also outlines the creation of a new bureau within the FTC focused on data privacy, with the authority to establish new rules in response to technological advancements.
Enforcement of the law would be the responsibility of the FTC and state attorneys general. If enacted, the legislation would supersede most state privacy laws, while exempting existing state laws protecting financial, health, or employee data.
