House Votes to Enhance Data Privacy for Individuals

HARTFORD – State Representative Charles Ferraro (R-117) celebrated final passage of a data privacy bill which would enhance Connecticut residents’ online privacy.

The legislation, SB 6 – An Act Concerning Personal Data Privacy and Online Monitoring establishes a framework for controlling and processing personal data and establishes responsibilities and privacy protection standards for data controllers and processors. It also grants consumers the right to access, correct, delete and obtain a copy of personal data, and opt out of the processing of personal data for the purposes.

“As the internet grows as a tool for communication, commerce, personal finances, and more, data privacy has become more important than ever,” said Rep. Ferraro. “Transparency and accountability are front and center in so many industries and regarding internet use and data protection, they are lacking. It is our central focus to ensure that individuals are protected and have agency in disseminating or consuming information. This bill goes a long way to protect those individual rights.”

Under this data privacy bill, the web providers will be required to clearly cite a privacy policy telling consumers what data is being collected, how it is being used, and why. This way, consumers are aware and have the right of knowing what information is being collected from them, the ability to see and fix any false data that is collected from them, and the right to have any collected data be deleted.

The bill will also prohibit web providers from discriminating against those who choose to exercise these rights. This bill will provide protection over user information, thus preventing these providers from abusing their data. It will require the providers to lessen the amount of data they collect and only use it for the purposes they are collected it for; therefore, having fewer data breaches and identity theft.

Currently, children’s online privacy protection imposes certain requirements on operators of websites or online services directed to children under 13 years of age, and on operators of other websites or online services that have actual knowledge that they are collecting personal information online from a child under 13 years of age. This data privacy bill also raises the children’s online privacy protection rule to children under 16 years of age.

The legislation awaits Governor Lamont’s signature to be become law, after receiving approval in both the House of Representatives and the State Senate.

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