US Lawmakers Reveal Bipartisan Data Privacy Legislation
U.S. lawmakers have created a bipartisan agreement on comprehensive data privacy legislation. Learn more about the proposed law and its implications for American residents.
- U.S. lawmakers have unveiled the American Privacy Rights Act, a proposed bill that will set detailed rules for data privacy in the country.
- The legislation repeals the myriad data privacy laws in the U.S. and establishes strong enforcement mechanisms to hold violators accountable.
U.S. lawmakers, Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation Chair Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and House Committee on Energy and Commerce Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), have unveiled the American Privacy Rights Act, a new data privacy legislation. This proposed law will create clearly defined protections and rights for Americans about data privacy while aiming to create enforcement mechanisms and eliminate the myriad of existing privacy laws.
Following years of heated debate, this is a significant step in passing data privacy laws. If successful, the law will help consumers protect their data from uncontrolled use by tech companies such as TikTok, Google, and Meta and create fixed federal standards for understanding how much information companies can collect, transfer, and use during a consumer’s online activity.
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The law will also allow consumers to choose which data practices apply to them and avoid issues such as targeted advertising if they see fit. Further, consumers will be able to delete their data or transfer it to another digital service of their choice. Consumers will be able to sue tech companies for violations. Tech companies will only be able to gather information needed to provide the services they offer. Companies with less than $40 million in annual revenue will be exempt.
If passed, the legislation will bring U.S. laws on par with those of the EU, which has had such protections for years. It would also amend several state laws that have arisen due to Congress’s inaction. The bill continues the trend of government action on internet policies, including child safety legislation and data privacy bills aimed at data brokers. Lawmakers hope to get the bill through Congress before the 2024 presidential elections.
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