Issue One offers data privacy expertise to Congress as members consider new comprehensive protections

Today, Issue One submitted a response to the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee’s request for information (RFI) on developing a comprehensive federal data privacy and security framework, with the goal of educating lawmakers from the 119th Congress as they begin drafting a new, comprehensive federal data privacy law. RFIs like these offer an opportunity for civil society groups to counter the influence of Big Tech — who have one lobbyist for every two members of Congress — by contributing fact-based perspectives on the necessity of technology reform for the benefit of the public and our democracy.

The response focused on seven areas within the technology policy space that overlap with the need for stronger data privacy protections: roles and responsibilities in the digital economy; personal information, transparency, and consumer rights; existing privacy frameworks and protections; data security; artificial intelligence; accountability and enforcement; and an additional information section, in which Issue One highlighted the importance of privacy for national security and democratic integrity.

“A healthy democracy requires that citizens have control over their personal information and are safeguarded from undue influence enabled by unchecked data collection,” wrote Issue One Policy Manager for Technology Reform Liana Keesing.

“Through innocuous internet activity such as social media or gaming, Americans are unwittingly revealing sensitive information about themselves to malicious actors. … Companies need to be held to higher standards when holding sensitive information. This means limiting how much and for how long personally identifiable data can be retained, and implementing strong security measures for information like social security numbers, health records, and biometric identifiers. The industry as a whole is the culprit, leveraging their economic and political might to evade proper responsibility for failing to protect users.”

Read the full response.

Background:

During previous Congresses, Issue One supported legislation that would have shielded Americans’ personal data, such as the American Data Privacy and Protection Act and the American Privacy Rights Act. These bipartisan bills aimed to establish a robust framework to protect Americans’ personal information from exploitation, whether through manipulation, fraud, or profiteering by Big Tech companies or foreign adversaries.