Will Continue to Advocate for Prohibition of Harmful Data Practices, Protection of Responsible Practices
Washington, DC, March 7, 2023 – Privacy for America, a coalition of leading companies and trade associations representing a broad cross-section of the American economy, today convened policymakers, economists, and business leaders to discuss the importance of enacting a comprehensive, preemptive national data privacy law. Coalition members renewed their commitment to supporting legislation that expands privacy protections for all Americans while preserving responsible data practices that support the internet, drive innovation, and support economic growth.
“With a growing patchwork of state data privacy laws and new rules being considered by the Federal Trade Commission, it has never been more important for Congress to deliver a uniform national law that enhances privacy protection for consumers while establishing clear rules for businesses,” said Stu Ingis, partner at Venable LLP and counsel to the Privacy for America coalition. “Given the contributions of responsible data practices to the economy, small businesses, and consumers, it is equally important for Congress to differentiate between beneficial practices that should be allowed and harmful ones that should be prohibited. Privacy for America will continue to work with Congress and the Administration to enact legislation that reflects these principles.”
Dr. J. Howard Beales, former director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection and Emeritus Professor at the George Washington School of Business, presented the results of a study he co-authored with Andrew Stivers with NERA Economic Consulting. They found that limiting online advertising’s access to data about audience interests and demographics substantially reduces revenue to online content providers by 50 to 70 percent. Such limits will disproportionately affect small publishers and advertisers and have the unintended effect of strengthening the competitive advantage of large platforms. Revenue losses will threaten the foundation of free online services that are worth $30,000 per year to the typical consumer, the review found.