ACLU Objects to Browser Act; DCN Sees Merit
The American Civil Liberties Union took aim at the Browser Act (HR-2520), particularly incensed over its pre-emption of state privacy laws. House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., introduced it last week, drawing concern from the Internet Association and favor…
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from AT&T (see 1705240053). “Rep. Blackburn’s bill would do precisely what industry wants, which is prevent states from taking their own actions to ensure high privacy standards,” said ACLU Legislative Counsel Neema Singh Guliani in a blog post Thursday. “If Rep. Blackburn’s goal is to raise privacy standards, she should remove the provision that preempts stronger state protections.” Digital Content Next Senior Vice President-Government Affairs Chris Pedigo said in his blog post “there’s a lot to like” about the Browser Act for industry and consumers: “The bill goes a step further in prohibiting companies from altering or denying service for consumers who do not opt-in. This provision is likely to draw the ire of industry lobbyists. But there’s a lot of merit in putting the onus on companies to develop a good 'elevator pitch' for consumers.” The Association of National Advertisers expanded on criticisms of the bill first cited Monday (see 1705220062). “We are interested in the idea and are early in the process,” said a spokesman for Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah.