White House: Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights
Building on the recommendations of a Green Paper on Privacy and Innovation released by the Department of Commerce's Internet Policy Task Force in December 2010, the Administration released Consumer Data Privacy in a Networked World: A Framework for Protecting Privacy and Promoting Innovation in the Global Economy. The report contains a Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights with the following principles:
- Individual Control: Consumers have a right to exercise control over what personal data companies collect from them and how they use it.
- Transparency: Consumers have a right to easily understandable and accessible information about privacy and security practices.
- Respect for Context: Consumers have a right to expect that companies will collect, use, and disclose personal data in ways that are consistent with the context in which consumers provide the data.
- Security: Consumers have a right to secure and responsible handling of personal data.
- Access and Accuracy: Consumers have a right to access and correct personal data in usable formats, in a manner that is appropriate to the sensitivity of the data and the risk of adverse consequences to consumers if the data is inaccurate.
- Focused Collection: Consumers have a right to reasonable limits on the personal data that companies collect and retain.
- Accountability: Consumers have a right to have personal data handled by companies with appropriate measures in place to assure they adhere to the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights.
In introducing the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights, President Obama stated that "even though we live in a world in which we share personal information more freely than in the past, we must reject the conclusion that privacy is an outmoded value. It has been at the heart of our democracy from its inception, and we need it now more than ever.”
- EPIC to Call For Comprehensive Overhaul of U.S. Privacy Law: In testimony before the US Congress, EPIC's Marc Rotenberg is expected to say that the recent decision of the European Court confirmed what everyone already knows, US privacy law is not adequate. "Our country suffers from an epidemic of data breaches and identity theft. And all the data indicates these problems are getting worse." EPIC, consumer allies, and privacy experts are urging the Congress to enact the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights, modernize the Privacy Act, create an independent privacy agency, and ratify the International Privacy Convention. "These changes will benefit consumers and businesses on both sides of the Atlantic." (Nov. 2, 2015)
- New Report Highlights Consumer Goals for EU Privacy Law: BEUC, The European Consumer Organization, has published "My Personal Data", outlining key requirements for negotiations in Europe on the General Data Protection Regulations. BEUC underscored "the urgent need to put consumers back in control over the way their personal data is processed online." The BEUC report emphasized strong data protection principles, enhanced rights for individuals, and a comprehensive enforcement scheme. EU negotiations involve a "trilogue" of the European Parliament, the Council, and the Commission, with the EU Data Supervisor also playing an active role. In the U.S., EPIC supports the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights and organized a coalition of consumer privacy groups to urge President Obama to enact the privacy framework into law. (Sep. 17, 2015) More top news »
- White House, Consumer Data Privacy in a Networked World: A Framework for Protecting Privacy and Promoting Innovation in the Global Economy (Feb. 2012)
- U.S. Dep't of Commerce, Commercial Data Privacy and Innovation in the Internet Economy: A Dynamic Policy Framework (Dec. 2010)
- Obama Administration Unveils Promising Consumer Privacy Plan, but the Devil Will Be in the Details, Marcia Hoffman, Electronic Frontier Foundation (Feb. 23, 2012)
- Time to Get Down to Business on Privacy, Chris Calabrese, American Civil Liberties Union (Feb. 23, 2012)
- Federal government’s online privacy plan: Statement by Consumers Union and Consumer Federation of America, Consumers Union (Feb. 23, 2012)
- Obama unveils push for Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights, John Fontana, ZDNet (Feb. 23, 2012)
- Obama Offers Blueprint for Privacy Rights on the Internet, John P. Mello Jr., PCWorld (Feb. 23, 2012)
- White House Privacy Bill of Rights--Good Start, but Concerns Loom, Center for Digital Democracy (Feb. 23, 2012)
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