The National Telecommunications and Information Administration is seeking comments from the public on the adverse effects of data practices of commercial companies on marginalized or underserved communities.

According to a Jan. 18 news release, the NTIA issued a request for comment from the public on how the ways firms collect, share and use data may harm individuals from marginalized or underserved communities, regarding privacy, equity and civil rights.

“Everyone in America deserves strong privacy protections,” NTIA Administrator and Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information Alan Davidson said in the release. “This is especially important for marginalized communities, where the consequences of privacy invasions can be more starkly felt. Data collection and sharing creates the risk of new digital discrimination replicating previous forms of profiling, redlining and exclusion. We are concerned about how these practices can hinder economic and social opportunities, from housing and jobs to health and safety.” 

According to the release, the data practices of firms can reinforce existing structural inequities. Examples include online job postings targeted on real or perceived demographic characteristics such as age, sex or race that reach certain groups while ignoring others; collecting and selling the private information from LGBTQ+ or religious apps that could lead to users being discriminated against in the real world; and the disproportionate cost to individuals from low-income communities of securing private information in the event of a data breach or identity theft.

Comments collected from the public will build on information previously collected from the NTIA and will be used to prepare a report which will contain proposals on how to improve current privacy laws to address privacy harms, the release reported.