NCL Statement on White House Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights discussion draft – National Consumers League
March 2, 2015
Contact: Ben Klein, NCL Communications (202) 835-3323, benk@nclnet.org
Washington, DC – The National Consumers League today expressed its hope that the White House’s proposal for a Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights will be just the beginning for a negotiation to enshrine strong consumer privacy protections in law. Unfortunately, should the proposal released last week be passed, it would in many ways actually weaken existing privacy and data security protections.
The following statement is attributable to John Breyault, NCL Vice President, Public Policy, Telecommunications and Fraud:
“The President has rightfully made protecting the privacy and security of consumers’ personal data a top priority of his Administration. Unfortunately, the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights released on Friday fails to create a robust framework for consumer privacy and data security protection. Instead, it relies on industry-created codes of conduct without effective enforcement mechanisms. What’s worse, it would preempt laws in nineteen states, many stronger that the proposed standard, that provide data security protections for their citizens. We hope that this draft proposal will serve as the starting point, not a high water mark discussions about how to better protect consumers’ privacy and data security in the digital age.”
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About the National Consumers League
The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.