Republican data privacy bill scrutinized in congressional hearing
Republican data privacy bill scrutinized in congressional hearing
Publish Date: 2026-06-03 17:58:00
Source Domain: www.dailyfly.com
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Businesses and online privacy advocates hold diametrically opposing views on the wisdom of congressional Republicans’ plans to enact a nationwide framework for consumer data privacy protections.
The SECURE Data Act, which a U.S. House committee reviewed Wednesday, would require online platforms to inform American users of data collection, sharing and use. The bill would also provide consumers an option to delete or request a copy of personal data, and, in theory, allow consumers to reject targeted advertising.
Business advocates present at the committee hearing praised the bill, calling it “long overdue.” They argued that it strikes the right balance between protecting consumers and supporting businesses, which currently have to navigate a patchwork of privacy laws enacted by 22 states.
“Overly burdensome or conflicting state mandates create compliance uncertainty that gets in the way of business investment and growth,” Ashli Watts, representing the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, told lawmakers. “The SECURE Data Act offers American consumers a strong, uniform set of privacy rights. It offers American businesses the clarity and consistency they need to innovate, compete and grow.”
Privacy advocates, however, argued that implementing the SECURE Data Act would be worse than having no federal standard at all.
The SECURE Data Act would overturn dozens of existing state privacy laws and preempt any state laws stricter than the proposed federal standard, such as a California law that allows consumers to sue companies for certain data privacy violations and a Maryland law that prevents companies from selling sensitive consumer data.
Caitriona Fitzgerald, deputy director at the Electronic Privacy Information Center, said a strong privacy law “should work with, not against, established state protections.”
“The SECURE Data Act would freeze outdated standards into law while hitting the delete button on decades of state laws…
