News Releases

Commerce Subcommittee Leaders to Secretary Ross: Online Privacy Protections Require Congressional Action

“Any proposal that satisfies both the needs of American consumers and the internet economy would require Congressional action to make it an enforceable nationwide standard.”

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) – chairman and ranking member of the U.S. Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, Insurance, and Data Security, respectively – along with U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) – chairman and ranking member of the U.S. Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet, respectively – today encouraged U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to include Congress in any blueprint discussions regarding a national privacy framework.

“To protect Americans from data misuse and establish certainty for businesses to create jobs, innovate, and compete domestically and abroad, a national privacy framework is essential,” the senators wrote. “Congress should be central to privacy blueprints. Any proposal that satisfies both the needs of American consumers and the internet economy would require Congressional action to make it an enforceable nationwide standard.”

“To that end, we believe that it is possible to provide consumers with more transparency and control over the collection and use of their personal data while preserving the innovation at the heart of the internet,” the senators continued. “We share the goal of providing Americans with data protections that promote privacy, competition, and innovation. We stand ready to work with you and encourage you to closely coordinate with Congress as you consider consumer privacy.”

The full text of the letter is below and available here.

The Honorable Wilbur L. Ross, Jr.
Secretary
U.S. Department of Commerce
101 Constitution Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20230

Dear Secretary Ross:

As the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, Insurance and Data Security and the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet, we welcome the White House’s initiative to develop a blueprint for consumer data privacy protections online. We recognize the need for nationwide privacy standards and look forward to coordinating with the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration, International Trade Administration, and National Institute of Standards and Technology as you contribute to this important discussion.

Over the past year, Americans have routinely heard stories about the misuse of their personal data. These disclosures demonstrate how little we know about who has access to consumers’ private information and how that data is used. This trend has troubling economic implications as it threatens to weaken consumers’ trust and confidence in the online ecosystem and jeopardize the United States’ leadership in the global digital economy.

To protect Americans from data misuse and establish certainty for businesses to create jobs, innovate, and compete domestically and abroad, a national privacy framework is essential. Congress should be central to privacy blueprints. Any proposal that satisfies both the needs of American consumers and the internet economy would require Congressional action to make it an enforceable nationwide standard. To that end, we believe that it is possible to provide consumers with more transparency and control over the collection and use of their personal data while preserving the innovation at the heart of the internet. We share the goal of providing Americans with data protections that promote privacy, competition, and innovation. We stand ready to work with you and encourage you to closely coordinate with Congress as you consider consumer privacy.

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