Blumenthal Statement on White House Proposed “Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights”

(Hartford, CT) – Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today released this statement following President Obama’s recent unveiling of a “Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights” which provides a blueprint to defend Americans against misuse of their personal information and calls for comprehensive online consumer protections:

Blumenthal said: I applaud President Obama’s attention to this vitally important issue. A Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights is a firm and meaningful step toward wide-ranging individual consumer privacy protection. I look forward to continuing to fight for consumers’ rights, including my bill containing similar proposals, and working with my Senate colleagues to pass comprehensive privacy legislation.” 

Blumenthal, a member of the Privacy, Technology, and the Law Subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee, introduced the Personal Data Protection and Breach Accountability Act in the U.S. Senate, which would require companies that handle consumers’ personal information to safeguard that information or face penalties. Blumenthal’s proposal has been approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

• The President’s Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights includes the following principles:
• The right to control how one’s data is collected and used;
• The right to understandable information about companies’ privacy and security practices;
• An expectation that companies will collect and use consumer information in ways that are respectful of the context in which consumers provide the data;
• The right to secure and responsible handling of personal data;
• The right to access and correct one’s data;
• The right to reasonable limits on companies’ collection and retention of personal data; and
• The right to have one’s personal information handled by companies with appropriate measures in place to assure adherence to the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights.

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