Why consumer privacy laws should be de facto across America
Consumers are rightfully demanding more control and privacy of their data and it’s time our nation steps it up to avoid embarrassing data scandals and pointless legal scrutiny, says Ghostery's Director of Product Jeremy Tillman.
Last month, California Gov. Jerry Brown rushed to approve a law that gives consumers more control and transparency into how their data is being tracked and shared by businesses that operate in the state.
The implications of this law will likely cross California borders, as any company that does business online in the United States almost certainly delivers their product or service to individuals in California, forcing them to comply with the law. As such, we can — and should — expect additional state and/or federal legislatures to follow in California’s footsteps and become more aggressive when it comes to consumer privacy.
Consumer privacy at the federal level: More than the thought that counts
Given the upcoming midterm elections, it’s hard to anticipate what legislation Congress will actually pursue. What is clear, however, is that many politicians view consumer privacy as a crucial issue to their constituents. For example, in the weeks following the Facebook hearings on the Cambridge Analytica data scandal, many Senate and House Democrats and Republicans openly discussed introducing legislation intended to protect consumer privacy. Whether these bills come to pass is an open question, though a good proof point will be whether or not any politicians campaign on the issue this fall.
Learn more about how the California Consumer Protection law can serve as a solid template to model future laws after by reading my guest post on The Hill.
