NBC News: Republicans and Democrats in Congress See Critical Window to Shield Online Data

May 23, 2024

Today, the Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee is holding a markup of the American Privacy Rights Act to establish one national standard for data privacy and security for people of all ages-including kids-in all 50 states. The bipartisan, bicameral draft legislation gives Americans control over where their information goes and who can sell it, empowers individuals to enforce their data privacy rights, and reins in Big Tech. Don't miss key excerpts from NBC's article highlighting the bill below:

"The presidential election is a little more than five months away, but key Republicans and Democrats in Congress see a critical window to pass sweeping legislation to shield the online data of both children and adults from Big Tech companies.

"'I believe that there's a moment here where, on behalf of the American people, Congress needs to act,' House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., said in an interview on the steps of the Capitol.

"'There's a recognition, on behalf of protecting our kids online, in protecting all Americans, that we need to ensure that there are privacy rights in place … and that our identity is being protected online and that we're in control of our data,' she said.

"The Energy and Commerce subcommittee that oversees online data will take the first step in trying to advance the privacy legislation, holding a markup Thursday on the American Privacy Rights Act, broad legislation that includes privacy protections for kids and adults, as well as the Kids Online Safety Act."

[...]

"A revised draft bill was announced this week to address critics' concerns.

"The American Privacy Rights Act would create national consumer data privacy rights and set federal standards for securing people's data rather than have a patchwork of state laws. Among other things, the legislation would require companies to be clear about how they use people's data and 'give consumers the right to access, correct, delete, and export their data,' according to a bill summary. The bill would also limit how companies collect and use data and ban transferring certain data to third parties without consent.

"The measure includes the bipartisan bill to protect kids' and teens' online data, known as COPPA 2.0.

"'I see the American Privacy Rights Act as foundational to protecting kids online, foundational to protecting our individual identity online,' McMorris Rodgers said.

"The bipartisan privacy bill is gathering momentum just weeks after McMorris Rodgers and Cantwell reached a compromise on legislation that forces TikTok's Chinese owner, ByteDance, to sell the popular video-sharing app or face a ban in the U.S. President Joe Biden signed the TikTok bill into law as part of a larger national security package."

CLICK HERE to read the full article.

CLICK HERE to learn more about how APRA is foundational to protecting kids online.

CLICK HERE for how APRA will help small businesses grow and thrive.

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