PrivacyLegislation to require Internet privacy baseline not around the corner
The European Union has set tough privacy protection laws and is even considering a proposal which would set even stricter requirements on Internet companies, including allowing users to access and delete data collected on them. The United States, however, has very few privacy protection laws. Some argue this is a good thing.
Internet and technology companies and their lobbyists have said they do not expect Congress to pass legislation protecting online privacy in the near future.
“I don’t anticipate [comprehensive privacy legislation] getting done this year,” Michael Beckerman, CEO of the Internet Association, a new lobbying group which represents tech industry giants, including Facebook, Google, and Amazon told the Hill.
“It’s not a front-burner issue right now,” another technology lobbyist explained. He also said the issue has stalled in the past because lawmakers are afraid of the stifling future innovation.
The Hill reports that the European Union has set tough privacy protection laws and is even considering a proposal which would set even stricter requirements on Internet companies, including allowing users to access and delete data collected on them.
The United States, however, has very few privacy protection laws. Some argue this is a good thing.
“American innovators lead the world when it comes to Internet services and that would be next to impossible under the European privacy regime,” Steve DelBianco, executive director of industry group NetChoice told the Hill.
During President Barack Obama’s first term, and more recently as a result of the increasing wave of attacks which expose to hackers the private information Internet organization gather about their customers,, there have been calls for online privacy legislation. Congress, however, has not been able to come together on any bill which would set baseline requirements on how companies should handle customers’ personal information.
The Obama administration argues that privacy laws would boost e-commerce as people would feel more comfortable sharing personal information online.
Now, many privacy advocates and policy makers are worried that without a set of rules, consumers could lose control over their personal information, which could lead to even more people losing their identities to thieves and further erode confidence in the reliability of the Internet.
The Hill notes that two years ago Senators John Kerry (D-Massachusetts) and John McCain (R-Arizona) introduced privacy legislation, but the bill did not move very far through congress.
Representative Lee Terry (R-Nebraska), the new chairman of a key subcommittee with jurisdiction over online privacy issues, said in January that he is open to privacy legislation but that his panel will have to form a study group and hold a series of hearings in order to get a better look at the issue.
Privacy lobbyists have concluded that some companies favor privacy legislation because it would give them a clear set of rules to follow.
“I don’t think in the first six months we’ll see much movement on [comprehensive privacy legislation],” admitted Justin Brookman, director of consumer privacy for the Center for Democracy and Technology, a public advocacy group.
Brookman said he is positive that Congress will eventually get to the issue and enact baseline privacy rules, and that narrower protection is possible as a short-term solution.
Representatives Joe Barton (R-Texas) and Ed Markey (D- Massachusetts) are trying to renew a push for the Do Not Track Kids Act, which would strengthen privacy rules for children.
