The House Committee on Energy & Commerce, Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce is set to review a discussion draft of the "American Data Privacy Rights Act" (APRA) on Thursday, May 23. The draft includes elements from the Child Online Privacy and Protection Act (COPPA 2.0) and the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). APRA seeks to establish baseline federal privacy protections aimed at minimizing data collection by private businesses, while COPPA 2.0 and KOSA focus specifically on younger users.
The Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA), which has advocated for federal privacy legislation for over a decade, issued its "Privacy Principles: A New Framework for Protecting Data and Promoting Innovation" in 2018. CCIA President & CEO Matt Schruers provided commentary regarding the upcoming legislative action.
"Internet traffic crosses state and international boundaries, and internet users need baseline protections to travel with them," Schruers stated. "More than a dozen state legislatures have enacted diverse privacy laws pending congressional action, a fact that calls out for a coherent national approach. Most importantly, consumers and businesses alike need clear and consistent privacy rules that maintain existing consumer-facing functions without undermining access to innovative new goods and services."
Schruers further emphasized CCIA's long-standing commitment to protecting children online but expressed concerns about certain legislative measures. "Legislation that mandates data-intensive age verification requirements to mitigate vaguely defined harms does not protect younger internet users," he noted. "Provisions like KOSA and COPPA 2.0 would result in over-removal of legitimate free expression, including by marginalized communities. Parents, not regulators, are best empowered to determine what content is appropriate for their children online."
He concluded by calling for ongoing discussions before advancing the legislation further: "Continued conversations are needed before moving towards a full committee markup if these legislative efforts are to serve the interests of internet users."
