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Referenced Laws
15 U.S.C. 6801 et seq.
42 U.S.C. 17931
15 U.S.C. 7403(a)(1)(D)
15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.
15 U.S.C. 57a(a)(1)(B)
15 U.S.C. 44
47 U.S.C. 151 et seq.
Section 1
1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Digital Accountability and Transparency to Advance Privacy Act or the DATA Privacy Act.
Section 2
2. Definitions In this Act: The term collect means taking any operation or set of operations to obtain covered data, including by automated means, including purchasing, leasing, assembling, recording, gathering, acquiring, or procuring. The term Commission means the Federal Trade Commission. The term covered data— means any information that is— collected, processed, stored, or disclosed by a covered entity; collected over the internet or other digital network; and linked to an individual or device associated with an individual; or practicably linkable to an individual or device associated with an individual, including by combination with separate information, by the covered entity or any potential recipient of the data; and does not include data that is— collected, processed, stored, or disclosed solely for the purpose of employment of an individual; or lawfully made available to the public from Federal, State, or local government records. The term covered entity— means any entity that collects, processes, stores, or discloses covered data; and does not include any entity that collects, processes, stores, or discloses covered data relating to fewer than 50,000 individuals and devices during any 12-month period. The term disclose means taking any action with respect to covered data, including by automated means, to sell, share, provide, or otherwise transfer covered data to another entity, person, or the general public. The term privacy enhancing technology means any— software solution, technical processes, or other technological means of enhancing the privacy and confidentiality of an individual’s covered data in data or sets of data; or de-identification, anonymization, or pseudonymization technologies or techniques, filtering tools, anti-tracking technology, differential privacy tools, synthetic data generation tools, cryptographic techniques (such as secure multi-party computation and homomorphic encryption), or systems for federated learning. The term privacy risk means potential harm to an individual resulting from the collection, processing, storage, or disclosure of covered data, including— direct or indirect financial loss; stigmatization or reputational harm; anxiety, embarrassment, fear, and other severe emotional trauma; loss of economic opportunity; or physical harm. The term process means any operation or set of operations that is performed on covered data or on sets of covered data, including by automated means, including organizing, combining, adapting, altering, using, or transforming. The term protected characteristic means an individual’s race, sex, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, religious belief, age, or disability status. The term pseudonymous data means covered data that may only be linked to the identity of an individual or the identity of a device associated with an individual if combined with separate information. The term reasonable interest means— a compelling business, operational, administrative, legal, or educational justification for the collection, processing, storage, or disclosure of covered data exists; and the interest does not subject the individual linked to the covered data to an unreasonable privacy risk. The term sensitive data means any covered data relating to— the health, biologic, physiologic, biometric, sexual life, or genetic information of an individual; or the precise geolocation information of a device associated with an individual. The term store means any operation or set of operations to continue possession of covered data, including by automated means. The term third party service provider means any covered entity that collects, processes, stores, or discloses covered data at the direction of, and for the sole benefit of, another covered entity under a contract. If the Commission determines that a term defined in paragraph (10) or (12) is not sufficient to protect an individual’s data privacy, the Commission may promulgated regulations under section 553 of title 5, United States Code, to modify the definition as the Commission considers appropriate.
Section 3
3. Required privacy notice Each covered entity shall post in an accessible location a notice that is concise, in context, in easily understandable language, accurate, clear, timely, updated, uses visualizations where appropriate, conspicuous, and free of charge regarding the covered entity’s privacy practices. The notice required by subsection (a) shall include— a description of the covered data that the entity collects, processes, stores, and discloses, including the sources that provided the covered data if the covered entity did not collect the covered data from the individual; the purposes for and means by which the entity collects, processes, and stores the covered data; the persons and entities to whom, and purposes for which, the covered entity discloses the covered data; and a conspicuous, clear, and understandable means for individuals to access the methods necessary to exercise their rights under sections 4 and 5.
Section 4
4. Required data practices Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall promulgate regulations under section 553 of title 5, United States Code, that require covered entities to implement, practice, and maintain certain data procedures and processes that meet the following requirements: Except as provided in subsection (b), require covered entities to meet all of the following requirements regarding the means by and purposes for which covered data is collected, processed, stored, and disclosed: Except as provided in paragraph (3), covered data collection, processing, storage, and disclosure practices must meet a reasonable interest of the covered entity, including— business, educational, and administrative operations that are relevant and appropriate to the context of the relationship between the covered entity and the individual linked to the covered data; relevant and appropriate product and service development and enhancement; preventing and detecting abuse, fraud, and other criminal activity; reasonable communications and marketing practices that follow best practices, rules, and ethical standards; engaging in scientific, medical, or statistical research that follows commonly accepted ethical standards; or any other purpose for which the Commission considers to be reasonable. In promulgating regulations in accordance with this subparagraph, the Commission shall consider— the role of impact assessments in determining the privacy risk for high risk processing; the sensitivity of the covered data; and the impact of such regulations on small business. Covered data collection, processing, storage, and disclosure practices may not be for purposes that result in discrimination against a protected characteristic, including— discriminatory targeted advertising practices; price, service, or employment opportunity discrimination; or any other practice the Commission considers likely to result in discrimination against a protected characteristic. In promulgating regulations in accordance with this subparagraph, the Commission shall consider— established civil rights laws, common law, and existing relevant consent decrees; the existing economic models and technology available in the digital advertising system; the role of algorithms and impact assessments; and the impact of such regulations on small businesses. Covered data collection, processing, storage, and disclosure practices may not be accomplished with means or for purposes that are deceptive, including— the use of inconspicuous recording or tracking devices and methods; the disclosure of covered data that a reasonable individual believes to be the content of a private communication with another party or parties; notices, interfaces, or other representations likely to mislead consumers; or any other practice that the Commission considers likely to mislead individuals regarding the purposes for and means by which covered data is collected, processed, stored, or disclosed. In promulgating regulations in accordance with this subparagraph, the Commission shall consider— existing relevant consent decrees; the reasonable expectations of consumers; research on deceptive practices; the role of deceptive user interfaces; and the impact of such regulations on small businesses. Except as provided in subsection (b), require covered entities to provide individuals with conspicuous access to a method that is in easily understandable language, concise, accurate, clear, to opt-out of any collection, processing, storage, or disclosure of covered data linked to the individual. Except as provided in subsection (b), require covered entities to provide individuals with a notice that is concise, in easily understandable language, accurate, clear, timely, and conspicuous to express affirmative, opt in consent— before the covered entity collects or discloses sensitive data linked to the individual; or before the covered entity collects, processes, stores, or discloses data for purposes which are outside the context of the relationship of the covered entity with the individual linked to the data, including— the use of covered data beyond what is necessary to provide, improve, or market a good or service that the individual requests; the processing or disclosure of covered data differs in material ways from the purposes described in the privacy policy that was in effect when the data was collected; any other purpose that Commission considers outside of context. Except as provided in subsection (b), require covered entities to— take reasonable measures to limit the collection, processing, storage, and disclosure of covered data to the amount that is necessary to carry out the purposes for which the data is collected; and store covered data only as long as is reasonably necessary to carry out the purposes for which the data was collected. Subsection (a) shall not apply if the limitations on the collection, processing, storage, or disclosure of covered data would— inhibit detection or prevention of a security risk or incident; risk the health, safety, or property of the covered entity or individual; or prevent compliance with an applicable law (including regulations) or legal process.
Section 5
5. Individual control over data use Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall promulgate regulations under section 553 of title 5, United States Code, to require covered entities to provide conspicuous, understandable, clear, and free of charge method to— upon the request of an individual, provide the individual with access to, or an accurate representation of, covered data linked to with the individual or the individual’s device stored by the covered entity; upon the request of an individual, provide the individual with a means to dispute and resolve the accuracy or completeness of the covered data linked to the individual or the individual’s device stored by the entity; upon the request of an individual, delete any covered data that the covered entity stores linked to the individual or the individual’s device; and when technically feasible, upon the request of an individual, allow the individual to transmit or transfer covered data linked to the individual or the individual’s device that is maintained by the entity to the individual in a format that is standardized and interoperable. If the covered data that an individual has requested processed under subsection (a) is pseudonymous data, a covered entity may decline the request if processing the request is not technically feasible. In fulfilling any requests made by the individual under subsection (a) the covered entity shall act in as timely a manner as is reasonably possible. A covered entity shall not discriminate against an individual because of any action the individual took under their rights described in subsection (a), including— denying goods or services to the individual; charging, or advertising, different prices or rates for goods or services; or providing different quality of goods or services. The Commission shall allow a covered entity, by contract, to provide relevant obligations to the individual under subsection (a) on behalf of a third party service provider that collects, processes, stores, or discloses covered data only on behalf of the covered entity.
Section 6
6. Information security standards Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall promulgate regulations under section 553 of title 5, United States Code, to require covered entities to establish and implement policies and procedures regarding information security practices for the treatment and protection of covered data taking into consideration— the level of identifiability of the covered data and the associated privacy risk; the sensitivity of the covered data collected, processed, and stored and the associated privacy risk; and the currently available and widely accepted technological, administrative, and physical means to protect covered data under the control of the covered entity; the cost associated with implementing, maintaining, and regularly reviewing the safeguards; and the impact of these requirements on small and medium sized businesses. In promulgating the regulations required under this section, the Commission shall consider a covered entity who is in compliance with existing information security laws that the Commission determines are sufficiently rigorous to be in compliance with this section with respect to particular types of covered data to the extent those types of covered data are covered by such law, including the following: Title V of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (15 U.S.C. 6801 et seq.). The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (42 U.S.C. 17931). The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 Security Rule (45 CFR 160.103 and part 164). Any other existing law requiring a covered entity to implement and maintain information security practices and procedures that the Commission determines to be sufficiently rigorous.
Section 7
7. Privacy protection officers Each covered entity with annual revenue in excess of $50,000,000 the prior year shall designate at least 1 appropriately qualified employee as a privacy protection officer who shall— educate employees about compliance requirements; train employees involved in data processing; conduct regular, comprehensive audits to ensure compliance and make records of the audits available to enforcement authorities upon request; maintain updated, clear, and understandable records of all data security practices undertaken by the covered entity; serve as the point of contact between the covered entity and enforcement authorities; and advocate for policies and practices within the covered entity that promote individual privacy. The privacy protection officer shall not be dismissed or otherwise penalized by the covered entity for performing any of the tasks assigned to the person under this section.
Section 8
8. Research into privacy enhancing technology The Director of the National Science Foundation, in consultation with other relevant Federal agencies (as determined by the Director), shall support merit-reviewed and competitively awarded research on privacy enhancing technologies, which may include— fundamental research on technologies for de-identification, pseudonymization, anonymization, or obfuscation to protect individuals' privacy in data sets; fundamental research on algorithms, machine learning, and other computational processes or tools used to protect individual privacy when collecting, storing, sharing, aggregating, or analyzing data; fundamental research on technologies that promote data minimization principles in data collection, sharing, transfers, retention, and analytics; research awards on privacy enhancing technologies coordinated with other relevant Federal agencies and programs; research on barriers to, and opportunities for, the adoption of privacy enhancing technologies, including studies on effective business models for privacy enhancing technologies; and international cooperative research, awards, challenges, and pilot projects on privacy enhancing technologies with key allies and partners of the United States. Subparagraph (D) of section 4(a)(1) of the Cyber Security Research and Development Act (15 U.S.C. 7403(a)(1)(D)) is amended to read as follows: privacy enhancing technologies and confidentiality; The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, acting through the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Program, shall coordinate with the Director of the National Science Foundation, the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the Commission to accelerate the development and use of privacy enhancing technologies. The Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall conduct outreach to— receive input from private, public, and academic stakeholders on the development and potential uses of privacy enhancing technologies; and develop ongoing public and private sector engagement to create and disseminate voluntary, consensus-based resources to increase the integration of privacy enhancing technologies in data collection, sharing, transfers, retention, and analytics by the public and private sectors. Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, acting through the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Program, shall, in coordination with the Director of the National Science Foundation, the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the Commission, submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives, and the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives, a report containing— the progress of research on privacy enhancing technologies; the progress of the development of voluntary resources described under subsection (c)(2)(B); and any policy recommendations of the Directors and the Commission that could facilitate and improve communication and coordination between the private sector, the National Science Foundation, and relevant Federal agencies through the implementation of privacy enhancing technologies. (D)privacy enhancing technologies and confidentiality;.
Section 9
9. Enforcement This Act and the regulations prescribed under this Act, other than the provisions of and amendments made by section 8, shall be enforced by the Commission under the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.). A violation of this Act or a regulation prescribed under this Act shall be treated as a violation of a rule defining an unfair or deceptive act or practice prescribed under section 18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 57a(a)(1)(B)). Subject to paragraph (4), the Commission shall prevent any person from violating this Act or a regulation prescribed under this Act in the same manner, by the same means, and with the same jurisdiction, powers, and duties as though all applicable terms and provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.) were incorporated into and made a part of this Act, and any person who violates this Act or such regulation shall be subject to the penalties and entitled to the privileges and immunities provided in the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.). Notwithstanding section 4, 5(a)(2), or 6 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 44, 45(a)(2), and 46) or any jurisdictional limitation of the Commission, the Commission shall also enforce this Act, in the same manner provided in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) with respect to common carriers subject to the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 151 et seq.) and Acts amendatory thereof and supplementary thereto. In any case in which the attorney general of a State has reason to believe that an interest of the residents of that State has been or is threatened or adversely affected by the engagement of any person in a practice that violates this Act or a regulation prescribed under this Act, the State, as parens patriae, may bring a civil action on behalf of the residents of the State in a district court of the United States of appropriate jurisdiction to— enjoin that practice; enforce compliance with this Act or such regulation; obtain damages, restitution, or other compensation on behalf of residents of the State; impose a civil penalty in an amount that is not greater than the product of the number of individuals whose information was affected by a violation and $40,000; or obtain such other relief as the court may consider to be appropriate. Beginning on the date that the Consumer Price Index is first published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics that is after 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and each year thereafter, the amounts specified in subparagraph (A)(iv) shall be increased by the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index published on that date from the Consumer Price Index published the previous year. Before filing an action under subparagraph (A), the attorney general of the State involved shall provide to the Commission— written notice of that action; and a copy of the complaint for that action. Clause (i) shall not apply with respect to the filing of an action by an attorney general of a State under this paragraph if the attorney general determines that it is not feasible to provide the notice described in that clause before the filing of the action. In an action described in subclause (I), the attorney general of a State shall provide notice and a copy of the complaint to the Commission at the same time as the attorney general files the action. The Commission may intervene in any civil action brought by the attorney general of a State under subsection (b) and upon intervening— be heard on all matters arising in the civil action; and file petitions for appeal of a decision in the civil action. Nothing in this subsection may be construed to prevent the attorney general of a State from exercising the powers conferred on the attorney general by the laws of the State to conduct investigations, to administer oaths or affirmations, or to compel the attendance of witnesses or the production of documentary or other evidence. If the Commission institutes a civil action for violation of this title or a regulation promulgated under this title, no attorney general of a State may bring a civil action under subsection (b) against any defendant named in the complaint of the Commission for violation of this Act or a regulation promulgated under this Act that is alleged in the complaint. Any action brought under subsection (b) may be brought in— the district court of the United States that meets applicable requirements relating to venue under section 1391 of title 28, United States Code; or another court of competent jurisdiction. In an action brought under subsection (b), process may be served in any district in which the defendant— is an inhabitant; or may be found. In addition to civil actions brought by attorneys general under subsection (b), any other officer of a State who is authorized by the State to do so may bring a civil action under subsection (b), subject to the same requirements and limitations that apply under this subsection to civil actions brought by attorneys general. Nothing in this subsection may be construed to prohibit an authorized official of a State from initiating or continuing any proceeding in a court of the State for a violation of any civil or criminal law of the State. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to limit the authority of the Federal Trade Commission under any other provision of law.
Section 10
10. Additional enforcement resources Notwithstanding any other provision of law the Commission may, without regard to the civil service laws (including regulations), appoint not more than 300 additional personnel for the purposes of enforcing privacy and data security laws and regulations. There is authorized to be appropriated to the Commission such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.