BROWSER Act of 2019
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (10 Apr 2019): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
What this bill does
The BROWSER Act of 2019, introduced in the Senate in April 2019, would establish new privacy protections for users of broadband internet access services and certain websites or mobile applications. These protections would require companies to obtain user permission before using, disclosing, or accessing their information, with different rules depending on the sensitivity of the data.
For sensitive information, such as financial data, health information, or browsing history, companies would need to get explicit "opt-in" approval from users. For less sensitive information, they would need to get "opt-out" approval, meaning users would have to object to its use after being notified. Users would be able to change these permissions at any time. However, companies would be allowed to use user information without approval for purposes necessary to provide their services, such as billing and collecting payments, or to prevent fraud.
The bill also prohibits companies from making access to their services conditional on users waiving their privacy rights. The BROWSER Act of 2019 was introduced and referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Balancing the Rights Of Web Surfers Equally and Responsibly Act of 2019 or the BROWSER Act of 2019
This bill establishes information privacy protections that require broadband internet access services and certain websites or mobile applications to provide users with the ability to opt-in or opt-out of the using, disclosing, or accessing of their user information depending on the sensitivity of the information.
Covered service providers must provide opt-in approval through express user consent to use sensitive information such as financial data, health information, browsing history, or other specified personally identifiable information. Such service providers must obtain opt-out approval for the use of non-sensitive user information by a user failing to object to such use after being provided notice of the provider's privacy policies. Service providers also must allow users to opt-in or opt-out of such approval at any time.
The bill permits service providers to use and disclose user information without approval for specified purposes, including for services necessary for provision of the service and to initiate, render, bill, and collect for the service.
The bill further prohibits providers from conditioning access to service on users' agreeing to waive their privacy rights.
Timeline
10 Apr 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Common questions
- What does S. 1116 do?
- The BROWSER Act of 2019, introduced in the Senate in April 2019, would establish new privacy protections for users of broadband internet access services and certain websites or mobile applications. These protections would require companies to obtain user permission before using, disclosing, or accessing their information, with different rules depending on the sensitivity of the data. For sensitive information, such as financial data, health information, or browsing history, companies would need to get explicit "opt-in" approval from users. For less sensitive information, they would need to get "opt-out" approval, meaning users would have to object to its use after being notified. Users would be able to change these permissions at any time. However, companies would be allowed to use user information without approval for purposes necessary to provide their services, such as billing and collecting payments, or to prevent fraud. The bill also prohibits companies from making access to their services conditional on users waiving their privacy rights. The BROWSER Act of 2019 was introduced and referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Has S. 1116 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for S. 1116. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored S. 1116?
- S. 1116 was sponsored by Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN] (R-TN), with 2 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on S. 1116?
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (10 Apr 2019).
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