Rep Suzan Delbene (D-WA)

Rep Suzan DelBene (D-WA) introduced the Information Transparency and Personal Data Control Act, legislation that would create a national data privacy standard to protect our most personal information and bring our laws into the 21st Century. The bill protects personal information including data relating to financial, health, genetic, biometric, geolocation, sexual orientation, citizenship and immigration status, Social Security Numbers, and religious beliefs. It also keeps information about children under 13 years of age safe.

[Commentary] While opinions may differ on the soundness of the European approach, it is difficult to dispute that the European Union is currently leading the charge on protecting consumers’ personal information online. Its General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which went into effect in May, is setting the standard for data protection. The US only has a small window to get back in the game and influence the shape of global digital privacy norms.