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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | April 3, 2014 11:56 AM |
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| From: | Representative Angel Cruz |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Prohibiting Tracking, Recording and Monitoring of Consumers by Cable and Satellite TV Companies |
| In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation that would prohibit cable and satellite television companies such as Comcast and Verizon from collecting video or audio from the set-top box used to display television programming to consumers. Recent news about cable and video programming companies planning to develop boxes with motion sensors and cameras to track movements, record conversations and monitor consumer behavior has renewed privacy concerns related to technology. In November of 2012, Verizon Communications Inc. filed a patent application for a set-top box that delivers advertisements based on users’ behaviors. For instance, a couple arguing in the vicinity of their cable box might immediately see an advertisement for marriage counseling. Verizon is just one of many companies, including Google and Microsoft, which are developing new systems designed to show households highly targeted ads. News of these plans has spurred headlines about the potential for cable boxes to be used to spy on us in our own homes. Two U.S. congressmen, a Democrat and a Republican, have introduced a bill that would require devices to flash on-screen warnings whenever they are recording viewers and would require consumer consent before companies could collect their data. My legislation would take Pennsylvania law a step further by banning the use of this invasive technology altogether. It would also impose penalties for violations of the ban. The extent to which these set-top boxes would collect consumer information is still unclear, but what is clear is that any collection of video and audio data of a consumer by any company, especially without the consumer's knowledge, is an absolute invasion of privacy. Furthermore, to allow the utilization of such invasive technology would set a dangerous precedent by providing companies of all kinds with a model on how to track personal consumer data for their own marketing purposes and financial gain. Please join me in ensuring that safeguards are put in place to protect the privacy rights of Pennsylvania citizens. Thank you in advance for your consideration. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact my Harrisburg office at 717-705-1925. |
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Introduced as HB2198