To U.S. Federal Privacy Law or To Not U.S. Federal Privacy Law, that is the question.

At a House Committee on Energy and Commerce hearing February 26, industry professionals and advocates made their pitches for what should be contained within a federal privacy bill. The discussion revolved around how prescriptive a federal law should be and its potential impact on small businesses and vulnerable populations.

Two points discussed:

  • A law as prescriptive as the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) or the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) is expensive to comply with and may lead to a barrage of litigation. This may adversely effect small and medium businesses which may end up closing shop.
  • Individuals should be given rights to access and correct the data companies collect and store about them online. Often, those impacted by misinformation (inaccuracies on credit scores, debts owed, criminal records, etc.) are minorities or low-income individuals who may be unable to fight for their rights.

Details from the International Association of Privacy Professionals.