Obama proposes new data privacy laws
In the lead-up to his State of the Union address, Obama is looking to strengthen existing data protection laws
President Obama yesterday speaking about proposed changes to the US' data privacy laws. Recent security breaches carried out on companies such as Target and Sony have prompted the President to rethink the Personal Data Notification and Protection Act
President Obama delivered a message to the Federal Trade Commission on January 12 about the importance of stronger data privacy laws in keeping consumers abreast of the cybersecurity threats facing their economic safety. The proposals come a week before the annual State of the Union address on January 20, and focus on new legislation that, if passed, would legally oblige US firms to disclose any information on data breaches.
The speech follows a string of high-profile security breaches in the past year
“As we’ve all been reminded over the past year, including the hack of Sony, this extraordinary interconnection creates enormous opportunities, but also creates enormous vulnerabilities for us as a nation and for our economy, and for individual families”, he said. “If we’re going to be connected, then we need to be protected. As Americans, we shouldn’t have to forfeit our basic privacy when we go online to do our business.”
If passed, the Personal Data Notification and Protection Act would mean that any US firm subject to a data breach would have to inform consumers of such an event within 30 days. The speech follows a string of high-profile security breaches in the past year, the most recent and significant of which being Sony and Target.
“Right now, almost every state has a different law on this, and it’s confusing for consumers and it’s confusing for companies – and it’s costly, too”, said Obama. However, the new legislation would not only clarify but also strengthen existing data protection laws, and make illegal illicit overseas trade in identities, according to a fact sheet released by the White House.
A recent poll, cited by the White House, shows that nine in 10 Americans feel they’ve lost control of their personal information. “In an increasingly interconnected world, American companies are also leaders in protecting privacy, taking unprecedented steps to invest in cybersecurity and provide customers with precise control over the privacy of their online content,” according to a White House statement. The proposal, therefore, marks a significant first step to ensure consumers do not lose confidence in the ability of American companies to protect their online security.
