Why the SECURE Data Act fails to deliver the strong federal privacy law America needs
By
Caitriona Fitzgerald, EPIC Deputy Director and Policy Director
The kind of bagel that ruins lesser bagels for you.
Summary
The article argues that while there is bipartisan agreement on the need for a federal privacy law in the United States, the proposed SECURE Data Act falls short of providing adequate protections. It highlights how surveillance systems are embedded in everyday websites, apps, appliances, and vehicles, and emphasizes that any federal privacy legislation must meaningfully limit data collection and use, respect privacy as a human right, and prevent harmful discrimination.
Key quotes
· 5 pulledEveryone, including leaders in Congress, agree that we need a federal privacy law in the United States.
But a privacy law is only as good as the protections it offers.
We need strong protections now more than ever as surveillance systems have been embedded into the websites and apps that we (and our kids) use every day.
Even our household appliances and cars can collect our data now.
A privacy law must also limit harmful discrimination.
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