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IAB Statement on the Release of the COVID-19 Consumer Data Protection Act

Business Leadership During Challenging Times

On May 7, U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, John Thune, R-S.D, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet, Deb Fischer, R-Neb., Chairman of the Subcommittee on Transportation and Safety, Jerry Moran, R-Kan., Chairman of the Subcommittee on Manufacturing, Trade, and Consumer Protection, and Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., introduced the COVID-19 Consumer Data Protection Act. The legislation would provide all Americans with more transparency, choice, and control over the collection and use of their personal health, device, geolocation, and proximity data. The bill would also hold businesses accountable to consumers if they use personal data to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

IAB issued the following statement in response to the introduction of the bill:

“We applaud Chairman Wicker and his Committee colleagues for putting consumer safety and the use of location data front and center as America endures the COVID-19 pandemic. The ability to use technology to help prevent the spread of coronavirus is helping public health experts and first responders track hot spots and other critical data, but that must be balanced against user awareness, control, and consent.

IAB member companies are innovating alongside governments around the globe to pinpoint coronavirus hot spots and help gather information in a responsible and privacy-protected manner. The need for regulatory certainty, and clear rules of the road for both consumers and American companies, has never been more dire.

We are eager to work with Chairman Wicker on advancing comprehensive, first-of-its-kind online privacy and data reform, and hope that the Senate Commerce Committee acts quickly to review and consider this and any other related draft legislation.”

Read more about the COVID-19 Consumer Data Protection Act