Promoting Digital Privacy Technologies Act
Latest action (11 May 2022): On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 401 - 19 (Roll no. 150).
What this bill does
H.R. 847, the Promoting Digital Privacy Technologies Act, directs federal science agencies to support research into "privacy enhancing technologies"—tools and techniques such as encryption methods, data anonymization, synthetic data generation, and other approaches designed to let organizations use data while reducing risks to individuals' privacy. The bill defines this term broadly and directs the National Science Foundation to fund competitive, merit-reviewed research in these areas, including workforce training and the development of freely available software tools. It also amends existing cybersecurity law to explicitly include privacy enhancing technologies within an existing computer and network security research program.
The bill primarily affects federal research agencies—the National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the Office of Science and Technology Policy—by giving them new coordination and outreach responsibilities. It calls for these agencies to work with the Federal Trade Commission and private-sector and academic stakeholders to develop voluntary technical standards for privacy technologies, and requires a report to relevant congressional committees within three years on research progress and policy recommendations. Any personal information collected under the bill's research activities would be subject to existing federal human-subjects protection rules.
The House passed the bill on May 11, 2022, by a vote of 401-19. It has not been taken up or passed by the Senate, so it did not become law during that Congress.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
This bill was introduced in a previous session of Congress and was passed by the House on May 11, 2022 but was never passed by the Senate.
Timeline
11 May 2022
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 401 - 19 (Roll no. 150).
19 Jan 2022
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Common questions
- What does H.R. 847 do?
- H.R. 847, the Promoting Digital Privacy Technologies Act, directs federal science agencies to support research into "privacy enhancing technologies"—tools and techniques such as encryption methods, data anonymization, synthetic data generation, and other approaches designed to let organizations use data while reducing risks to individuals' privacy. The bill defines this term broadly and directs the National Science Foundation to fund competitive, merit-reviewed research in these areas, including workforce training and the development of freely available software tools. It also amends existing cybersecurity law to explicitly include privacy enhancing technologies within an existing computer and network security research program. The bill primarily affects federal research agencies—the National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the Office of Science and Technology Policy—by giving them new coordination and outreach responsibilities. It calls for these agencies to work with the Federal Trade Commission and private-sector and academic stakeholders to develop voluntary technical standards for privacy technologies, and requires a report to relevant congressional committees within three years on research progress and policy recommendations. Any personal information collected under the bill's research activities would be subject to existing federal human-subjects protection rules. The House passed the bill on May 11, 2022, by a vote of 401-19. It has not been taken up or passed by the Senate, so it did not become law during that Congress.
- Has H.R. 847 become law?
- Not yet. As of 11 May 2022, H.R. 847 is passed house (senate next).
- Who sponsored H.R. 847?
- H.R. 847 was sponsored by Rep. Haley Stevens [D-MI11] (Democrat-MI), with 0 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on H.R. 847?
- On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 401 - 19 (Roll no. 150). (11 May 2022).
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