In light of the U.S. House of Representatives’ passage of legislation that could lead to a nationwide ban against TikTok to protect American personal data from foreign threats, Illinois Senate Minority Deputy Leader Sue Rezin (R-Morris) is urging Congress to take further action to protect every American’s sensitive personal information.
“While there is no question there is a need to protect Americans’ sensitive personal information from bad foreign actors, we must not forget that every single day vast amounts of sensitive data is being collected and sold with very little oversight right here at home,” said Sen. Rezin. “While the dangerous and negative implications of collecting and sharing sensitive information may not be readily understood by everyone, it’s crucial that we empower individuals with the right to safeguard their privacy.”
Senator Rezin is calling upon Congress to enact national legislation that is similar to the Privacy Rights Act that she has filed in the Illinois Senate. Under this Act, a person has the right to know what data is being collected, and who its being sold or shared with. They can also request corrections and deletion of that data, as well as have the ability to opt-out of the sharing and selling of their data. All while still being able to utilize the services without fear of retaliation from the companies.
“This isn’t about protecting data; it’s about protecting people and their right to privacy,” continued Sen. Rezin. “Our job as elected representatives is to anticipate potential threats in order to protect the people we serve. That duty has now gone beyond just the physical world of our communities, but now encompasses the digital world as well.”
The states of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Utah, and Virginia have already implemented their own versions of comprehensive state-level data privacy laws, and other states are reviewing their own proposals. Additionally, the European Union implemented several privacy data laws and regulation, including the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Act.