Internet Association Says Companies Support National Data Privacy Rules

The Internet Association, a group that represents Facebook, Amazon and Alphabet’s Google, among other technology and internet companies, said on Tuesday (Sept. 11) that it supports data privacy rules in the U.S. that are more modern, but urged lawmakers to approach the issue nationally.

According to a report in Reuters, citing The Internet Association, the trade group wants the rules to preempt a new regulation on the books in California that comes into effect in 2020. The trade group represents 40 major internet and technology companies, including Netflix, Microsoft and Twitter.

“Internet companies support an economy-wide, national approach to regulation that protects the privacy of all Americans,” the group said, adding that it backed ideas that would make sure consumers have “meaningful controls over the personal information they provide.” The group also said that consumers should be able to delete data, request corrections or have personal information taken down, as well as have access to the personal information they provide the company.

In an interview, Michael Beckerman, president and chief executive officer of The Internet Association, told Reuters the data privacy proposals are “very forward-looking and very aggressive,” and that the Association wants to make sure the rules will be technology- and sector-neutral, meaning any new proposals would cover data uses for all types of industries. The aim is to get it into place before the California law kicks in.

Jerry Brown, the governor of California, signed the data privacy legislation into law in June, providing consumers with more control over their data and how companies collect and use it. With the law starting in 2020, big companies would have to let consumers see the data they collected and respond to requests for deletion. The companies also have to enable customers to opt out of having their data sold to vendors.