Internet Association Supports Modernizing Data Privacy Rules

The Internet Association, a group representing over 40 major Internet and technology firms, announced their support for the modernization of online data privacy rules. Representing such companies as Google, Netflix, Facebook, Twitter, Amazon and Microsoft, the Internet Association wants consumers to have more control over how their personal information is used and shared on the Internet.

The group aims to work with Congress to create national data privacy regulations ahead of a new law in California. Earlier this year, California passed a bill allowing consumers to know what information companies are collecting, why they are collecting the data, and where it will be distributed. It is scheduled to go into effect in 2020.

Michael Beckerman, president of the Internet Association, said, “We definitely want to get this in place prior to California because California got it wrong.”

The proposed laws are not as stringent as similar European laws passed in May.

The new regulations could change the way customers are notified of data breaches, as the Internet Association strives to set a “performance standard” for data protection online.