Senator Markey Celebrates Ftc's Announcement on Online Consumer Privacy Protections

Press Release

Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) a member of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, released the following statement after the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking to bolster online consumer privacy protections:

"As a longtime advocate for comprehensive privacy protections, I wholeheartedly support the FTC's efforts to explore strong online privacy rules. I thank Chair Khan for her tireless work to protect consumers and look forward to working with her and the rest of the Commission on this proceeding. While a strong update to online privacy protections is needed, it is no substitute for Congressional action. We have reached a crisis point when it comes to children and teen's well-being online. I applaud Commissioners Slaughter and Bedoya for highlighting children and teens as a vulnerable population online, since lax online data practices can pose a heightened threat to young people.

"Protecting kids online has long been a top priority of mine, and I am committed to modernizing our laws to end the pernicious and invasive data collection practices that are targeting and harming our children and teens. It's time for Congress to meet the moment and act with the urgency that these issues demand by passing my bipartisan legislation, the Children and Teens' Online Privacy Protection Act."

The Children and Teens' Online Privacy Protection Act, co-sponsored by Senators Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Commerce Committee members Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), would prohibit internet companies from collecting personal information from anyone 13- to 16-years old without the user's consent; ban targeted marketing to children; create an online "Eraser Button" by requiring companies to permit users to eliminate personal information from a child or teen; implement a "Digital Marketing Bill of Rights for Minors" that limits the collection of personal information from young users; and establish a first-of-its-kind Youth Privacy and Marketing Division at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which will be responsible for addressing the privacy of children and minors, as well as marketing directed at children and minors.

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