House, Senate commerce chairs release bipartisan privacy bill

The House and Senate Commerce Committee chairmen on Sunday night announced bipartisan legislation aimed at protecting Americans’ personal data online.

It was announced by Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) and Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Washington). American Privacy Rights Act Sunday, it would establish “clear national data privacy rights and protections for Americans.” It would pre-empt state data privacy laws and establish a way for Americans to sue those who violate privacy laws.

Lawmakers said the agreement ends years of efforts to reach a compromise on data privacy in Congress.

“This bipartisan, bicameral bill is the best opportunity in decades to establish national data privacy and security standards that give people control over their personal information,” the lawmakers said. said in a joint statement. “This landmark bill is the culmination of years of good faith efforts by the House and Senate.”

“This strikes a meaningful balance on issues important to passing comprehensive data privacy legislation through Congress. Americans have the right to control their data, and we need the House and Senate to We look forward to working with our colleagues to sign this bill into law,” they continued.

If passed, the bill would create national privacy standards that are “stronger” than any state’s existing laws, lawmakers said. This would give Americans more control over their personal data, including the ability to prevent companies from transferring or selling it.

It will also allow people to opt out of targeted advertising and access their data. Americans will also be able to sue “bad actors who violate their privacy rights,” and companies will be prevented from enforcing mandatory arbitration.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee, currently chaired by McMorris Rodgers, introduced a similar privacy bill in 2022, but the Senate did not consider its own bill at the time. In his statement, McMorris Rodgers said the latest bill gives individuals “the right to control where their information goes and who can sell it.”

“This law will rein in Big Tech by prohibiting it from tracking, predicting, or manipulating people’s behavior for profit without their knowledge or consent. They want us to act as their elected representatives,” she said.

Cantwell, chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, said the agreement gives Americans the protections they deserve.

“Federal data privacy laws need to do two things: make privacy a consumer right and give consumers the ability to exercise that right,” Cantwell said. “Working with Congressman McMorris Rogers, our bill will do just that.”