Consumer Internet Privacy Protection Act of 1997
Latest action (7 Jan 1997): Introduced
What this bill does
H.R. 98, the Consumer Internet Privacy Protection Act of 1997, would regulate how "interactive computer services" — providers giving multiple users modem access to the Internet — handle personally identifiable information collected from subscribers. Such services would be barred from disclosing a subscriber's personal information to third parties without prior written, informed consent, which subscribers could revoke at any time. Services also could not knowingly disclose information they knew to be falsified. Subscribers would have the right to view, verify, and correct their own information held by the service, and to learn which third parties received it, all free of charge.
The bill would primarily affect internet service providers and their subscribers, giving individual internet users new privacy rights over data held by their service providers while imposing compliance obligations on the companies providing internet access. Enforcement would fall to the Federal Trade Commission, which could investigate violations and issue cease-and-desist orders as though under the FTC Act; subscribers harmed by violations could also sue for relief in civil court.
The bill was introduced by Rep. Bruce Vento on January 7, 1997, and referred to the House Committee on Commerce. It did not receive a vote and did not advance further in the 105th Congress, meaning it did not become law.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Consumer Internet Privacy Protection Act of 1997 - Prohibits an interactive computer service from disclosing to a third party any personally identifiable information provided by a subscriber without the subscriber's informed written consent. Permits the subscriber to revoke such consent at any time and requires the service to cease disclosing such information. Prohibits such service or its employee from knowingly disclosing to a third party any personally identifiable information provided by a subscriber that such service has knowingly falsified. Requires, at a subscriber's request, such service to: (1) provide such individual with his or her personally identifiable information maintained by the service; (2) permit the subscriber to verify and to correct such information; and (3) provide to the subscriber the identity of the third party recipients of such information. Prohibits the service from charging a fee to the subscriber for making such information available. Grants the Federal Trade Commission the authority to: (1) investigate whether a service has been or is engaged in any act or practice prohibited by this Act; and (2) if so, issue a cease and desist order as if such service were in violation of specified provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act. Allows a subscriber aggrieved by a violation of this Act to obtain appropriate relief in a civil action.
Common questions
- What does H.R. 98 do?
- H.R. 98, the Consumer Internet Privacy Protection Act of 1997, would regulate how "interactive computer services" — providers giving multiple users modem access to the Internet — handle personally identifiable information collected from subscribers. Such services would be barred from disclosing a subscriber's personal information to third parties without prior written, informed consent, which subscribers could revoke at any time. Services also could not knowingly disclose information they knew to be falsified. Subscribers would have the right to view, verify, and correct their own information held by the service, and to learn which third parties received it, all free of charge. The bill would primarily affect internet service providers and their subscribers, giving individual internet users new privacy rights over data held by their service providers while imposing compliance obligations on the companies providing internet access. Enforcement would fall to the Federal Trade Commission, which could investigate violations and issue cease-and-desist orders as though under the FTC Act; subscribers harmed by violations could also sue for relief in civil court. The bill was introduced by Rep. Bruce Vento on January 7, 1997, and referred to the House Committee on Commerce. It did not receive a vote and did not advance further in the 105th Congress, meaning it did not become law.
- Has H.R. 98 become law?
- Not yet. As of 7 Jan 1997, H.R. 98 is introduced.
- Who sponsored H.R. 98?
- H.R. 98 was sponsored by Rep. Bruce Vento [D-MN4, 1977-2000] (Democrat-MN), with 15 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on H.R. 98?
- Introduced (7 Jan 1997).
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