A group of U.S. lawmakers on Thursday reintroduced a bill aimed at empowering Americans to stop brokers from collecting and selling their personal data.
The bipartisan Data Elimination and Limiting Extensive Tracking and Exchange Act (DELETE Act for short) is a revised version of a similar measure that failed to get Congress’ approval last year.
Among other provisions, the new bill gives individuals the right to compel data brokers to delete their data and prevent them from collecting it in the future.
“Privacy should be expected and protected online,” Senator Bill Cassidy, one of the bill’s sponsors, said. “This bill gives Americans a solution to ensure their personal data is not tracked, collected, bought or sold by data brokers.”
The DELETE Act at a Glance
The latest version of the DELETE Act introduces key provisions to enhance the online privacy of Americans. It tasks the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) with creating a system to track data deletion requests and improve accountability and transparency. The bill also requires all data brokers to register with the FTC.
The DELETE Act directs the FTC to create an online dashboard where individuals can submit a request for their data to be deleted. When a request is submitted, it will be sent to all data brokers, streamlining the process and making it easier for individuals to get their data scrubbed from brokers’ records. The Act will also introduce a “Do Not Track” list, protecting individuals from unwanted data collection.
“Once our phone number, web history, or even social security number gets added to a data broker’s list, it becomes nearly impossible to get it removed,” Representative Lori Trahan, a sponsor of the bill, said. “It’s long past time to rein in the shady practices of data brokers.”
The DELETE Act broadly defines personal information to include biometric data, geolocation data, and social security numbers.
While many have praised the reintroduction of the DELETE Act, some have voiced concerns over the burden the DELETE Act could place on the FTC. The bill would impose a fee on data brokers, but it’s unclear if this fee would cover the cost of establishing and maintaining the registration and tracking system.
Protecting Your Privacy Online
The DELETE Act, a landmark privacy legislation, reflects a growing awareness of the importance of data privacy.
“Americans expect and deserve privacy, and this bipartisan bill will allow them to finally take control over their personal information,” Representative Chuck Edwards, another sponsor of the bill, said.
Most websites and apps practice invasive tracking and data collection. Our article on who can see your browsing data shows how your online activities can be tracked and how to protect yourself.
While the DELETE Act is under scrutiny, you can take your privacy into your hands by using data removal services, like DeleteMe and Incogni, to wipe your data from brokers’ records.
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