The House Energy and Commerce Committee kickstarted its push for new federal privacy law on Tuesday, reviewing a bipartisan proposal that faces an uphill battle with Democrats in the Senate.
The American Data Privacy and Protection Act intends to minimize the collection of people’s data, create protections for Americans against discriminatory use of their data, and give people the ability to turn off targeted ads online.
The Energy and Commerce Committee’s bipartisan leaders, Reps. Frank Pallone, New Jersey Democrat, and Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Washington Republican, authored the proposal alongside Sen. Roger Wicker, Mississippi Republican.
Mr. Pallone, the committee chairman, said the bill is needed to restore choice to consumers online and it represents the first serious attempt at a comprehensive national privacy bill with bicameral and bipartisan support.