PA Senators Push Consumer Data Privacy Legislation

HARRISBURG — Two eastern Pennsylvania lawmakers plan to soon introduce legislation designed to better protect consumer data privacy in the digital age.

State Sens. Maria Collett, D-Montgomery/Bucks, and Lisa Boscola, D-Lehigh/Northampton announced they are sponsoring legislation they say will protect Pennsylvanians' privacy rights and empower consumers.

"We are living more of our lives online than ever — from shopping to working, banking and connecting on social media — and companies are making record profits from selling our data," Collett said in a statement. "It's our responsibility as legislators to keep up with the times and make sure Pennsylvanians' privacy is prioritized."

Collett said the bill — which is not yet numbered — would increase data transparency and let consumers "call the shots" when it comes to monetizing consumers' private information.

Boscola added that the measure would be designed to protect consumers of all ages, including younger children who reside within a household.

The two senators said that the proposed legislation would protect consumers by alerting them about what personal information is being collected about them, and whether it's being sold or disclosed, and to whom; give consumers the option to decline or opt-out of the sale of their personal information; allow consumers the ability to access their personal information that has been collected; and ban the sale of all information for consumers who are under 16 years of age.

The lawmakers said that the bill — which is companion legislation to House Bill 1126 — would only target companies who derive at least half of their revenue from the sale of consumer data to third parties, thereby minimizing cost and inconvenience to small businesses in the commonwealth.

According to the senators, if Pennsylvania passes the bill, it will become the sixth state in the nation to have such enhanced privacy protection laws.

Currently, California, Connecticut, Colorado, Utah and Virginia have similar statutes on the books.