Cicilline Introduces Consumer Privacy Protection Act; Bill Applauded by Privacy Advocates
Rep. David Cicilline, D-R.I., introduced the Consumer Privacy Protection Act Wednesday to “help ensure that sensitive personal information individuals share with corporations is kept secure from hackers and other malicious actors,” he said in a news release. Consumers are providing…
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more personal information than ever before to major companies and expect this information will be kept secure, Cicilline said, saying the bill would “modernize standards for protecting consumer data and provide some much-needed peace of mind for American consumers.” Consumer Watchdog endorsed the bill, a companion to a bill introduced in the Senate by Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and five other Democrats, as have Consumer Action, the Consumer Federation of America and Public Knowledge. Eleven Democratic House members are co-sponsors. Since 47 states have breach notification laws, “it is essential that federal legislation not undermine those protections,” Consumer Watchdog said in a news release. The Consumer Privacy Protection Act would require companies that store personal information on more than 10,000 customers take steps to keep that information safe from cyberattacks and data breaches, and require those companies to notify consumers and federal law enforcement after a major data breach, Cicilline’s release said. “The personal information protected in the bill includes Social Security numbers, usernames and passwords, biometric data, geolocation, information on a person’s health and well-being, and private photos,” it said. Public Knowledge Vice President-Government Affairs Chris Lewis said the bill creates a strong federal standard that doesn’t pre-empt state laws that have higher standards and “preserves the system of data security at the Federal Communications Commission that has been an integral part of privacy protections on essential communications networks.” Susan Grant, director of Consumer Protection and Privacy for the Consumer Federation of America, said the bill “effectively addresses the problem of data insecurity and provides the comprehensive protection that consumers need and want,” and urged the House to pass it quickly.