Data Care Act of 2019
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (2 Dec 2019): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
What this bill does
The Data Care Act of 2019 (S. 2961) would create new legal duties for "online service providers" — businesses that collect personal data about users through the internet or other digital networks — regarding how they handle that information. Providers would be required to reasonably secure user data, notify users of breaches involving sensitive information, avoid using data in ways that harm users or benefit the company to a user's detriment, and refrain from selling or sharing data unless the recipient agrees to follow the same duties. The Federal Trade Commission would be authorized to write rules implementing and, in some cases, exempting certain providers from these requirements.
The bill would affect any company or organization, including nonprofits and certain common carriers, that collects personally identifying data from individuals online, as well as third parties who receive such data. Ordinary internet users would benefit through added data-security, non-exploitation, and confidentiality protections, backed by enforcement from the FTC and, in certain cases, state attorneys general and other state consumer-protection officials, who could seek civil penalties for violations.
The bill was introduced by Senator Brian Schatz on December 2, 2019, with several Democratic cosponsors, and referred to the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. It did not receive a vote during the 116th Congress and would need to be reintroduced in a later Congress to be considered further.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Data Care Act of 2019
This bill imposes various duties on online service providers with respect to their handling of individual-identifying data that can be reasonably linked to a specific user. Specifically, online service providers have a duty to (1) reasonably secure such data from unauthorized access, (2) refrain from using such data in a way that will result in reasonably foreseeable harm to the end user, and (3) not disclose such data to another party unless that party is also bound by the duties established in this bill. The bill authorizes the Federal Trade Commission and specified state officials to take enforcement actions with respect to breaches of such duties.
Timeline
2 Dec 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Common questions
- What does S. 2961 do?
- The Data Care Act of 2019 (S. 2961) would create new legal duties for "online service providers" — businesses that collect personal data about users through the internet or other digital networks — regarding how they handle that information. Providers would be required to reasonably secure user data, notify users of breaches involving sensitive information, avoid using data in ways that harm users or benefit the company to a user's detriment, and refrain from selling or sharing data unless the recipient agrees to follow the same duties. The Federal Trade Commission would be authorized to write rules implementing and, in some cases, exempting certain providers from these requirements. The bill would affect any company or organization, including nonprofits and certain common carriers, that collects personally identifying data from individuals online, as well as third parties who receive such data. Ordinary internet users would benefit through added data-security, non-exploitation, and confidentiality protections, backed by enforcement from the FTC and, in certain cases, state attorneys general and other state consumer-protection officials, who could seek civil penalties for violations. The bill was introduced by Senator Brian Schatz on December 2, 2019, with several Democratic cosponsors, and referred to the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. It did not receive a vote during the 116th Congress and would need to be reintroduced in a later Congress to be considered further.
- Has S. 2961 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for S. 2961. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored S. 2961?
- S. 2961 was sponsored by Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI] (D-HI), with 16 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on S. 2961?
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (2 Dec 2019).
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