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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2021 - 2022
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | June 21, 2022 03:50 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Frank Burns |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Creating a one-stop-shop for Pennsylvanians to better control the sale and use of their online personal data |
| Each day, consumers are using smart phones, laptops, notebooks and other devices to stay up on the news, send a message to a friend, fill out an application, watch a video or movie, or make an online purchase. Many consumers are online from the beginning to the end of their day. Each e-mail, online search or purchase, or social media hit creates data about that individual. In any given time period, thousands of data points on an individual’s personal information, loyalty programs, public records, online purchases and subscription information will be collected. That data is valuable to many third parties, who want to target products and advertising, or track consumer’s viewing and purchasing trends. How those data points get to the third party often is not something that most consumers think about, but they have a right to know who is collecting that personal information and how it is being packaged and sold. Data brokers often are the link between the consumer and the third-party entities that want to access and use that data. Data brokers are in the business of aggregating and selling data points about consumers to multiple sources. These brokers do not have a direct relationship with consumers, yet they can provide information that is beneficial to other third parties. I am introducing legislation that would establish a data broker registration within the Office of Attorney General. Under the bill, data brokers who collect information on Pennsylvanians would be required to annually register with the Attorney General and provide information to consumers on how they may opt out of the sale of their personal information. Privacy is an unalienable right for all people. Data broker registration will ensure that Pennsylvanians will be better informed about who is collecting their data and how it is being used. I hope that you will join with me in supporting this important consumer protection. |
Introduced as HB2715