Introduced by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and John Kennedy (R-LA), a new Senate bill will be aiming at protecting consumers’ online data privacy. The plans for such a bill were previously hinted at Mark Zuckerberg’s testimony before Congress, and now we’re seeing the bill being introduced to everyone.
“Every day companies profit off of the data they’re collecting from Americans, yet leave consumers completely in the dark about how their personal information, online behavior, and private messages are being used,” Senator Klobuchar said in a statement.
“Consumers should have the right to control their personal data and that means allowing them to opt out of having their data collected and tracked and alerting them within 72 hours when a privacy violation occurs and their personal information may be compromised. The digital space can’t keep operating like the Wild West at the expense of our privacy.”
The Social Media Privacy and Consumer Rights Act of 2018 would require companies to have clearly written terms of service agreement in plain language, and would have to ensure consumers have the ability to see what data of theirs is being collected and shared. Additionally, it would grand users the right to opt out of data tracking and collection as well as give them more access and control over their information online. If a privacy violation happens, companies would be required to notify affected users within 72 hours and online platforms will be required to have a privacy program.
