Public Interest Privacy Principles

Endorsed by 34 Leading Groups

Today, we joined 34 civil rights, consumer, and privacy organizations in releasing shared Public Interest Privacy Principles because the public needs and deserves strong and comprehensive federal legislation to protect their privacy and afford meaningful redress. The principles lay down minimum standards for any federal privacy protection legislation expected to be considered in 2019. We expect powerful special interests to instead push for a weak law that allows them to continue business as usual: treating us as if were their product, not their customer.

Today, we joined 34 civil rights, consumer, and privacy organizations in releasing shared Public Interest Privacy Principles because the public needs and deserves strong and comprehensive federal legislation to protect their privacy and afford meaningful redress.  The principles lay down minimum standards for any federal privacy protection legislation expected to be considered in 2019. We expect powerful special interests to instead push for a weak law that allows them to continue business as usual: preempting stronger state privacy laws and treating us as if were their product, not their customer.

Irresponsible data practices lead to a broad range of harms, including discrimination in employment, housing, healthcare, and advertising. They also lead to data breaches and loss of individuals’ control over personal information. Existing enforcement mechanisms fail to hold data processors accountable and provide little-to-no relief for privacy violations.The privacy principles outline four concepts that any meaningful data protection legislation should incorporate at a minimum:

  • Privacy protections must be strong, meaningful, and comprehensive.
  • Data practices must protect civil rights, prevent unlawful discrimination, and advance equal opportunity.
  • Governments at all levels should play a role in protecting and enforcing privacy rights.
  • Legislation should provide redress for privacy violations.

Click “download report” from this page to see the full principles.

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