Zwicker Wants NJ to Enact Robust Internet Privacy Protections
Colleen O’Dea | February 14, 2019
This is an excerpt from a story published by NJ Spotlight. The original article can be found here: Zwicker Wants NJ to Enact Robust Internet Privacy Protections
Assemblyman says New Jersey shouldn’t wait for federal action, must take own measures to give consumers power over their personal data
New Jersey lawmakers are launching an offensive to try to protect the privacy of residents and allow internet users to prevent the sale of their personal information gathered when they are online.
The Assembly Science, Innovation and Technology Committee is slated to hear today a half dozen measures that would seek to educate individuals and businesses about cybersecurity and put control over the collection and sale of personal information back into the hands of the public.
This discussion comes a day after the U.S. Government Accountability Office released a report urging Congress to consider “comprehensive legislation on Internet privacy that would enhance consumer protections and provide flexibility to address a rapidly evolving Internet environment.” The report noted, “The United States does not have a comprehensive Internet privacy law governing the collection, use, and sale or other disclosure of consumers’ personal information.”
That’s exactly why New Jersey needs to put in place its own privacy protections, said Assemblyman Andrew Zwicker (D-Middlesex), who chairs the committee and is sponsoring four of the bills on the agenda.
“This is really about giving consumers power over their data,” Zwicker said. “Should this happen at the federal level? Absolutely. We would want to see these protections at the federal level, but we are not seeing that … Until they do, New Jersey is going to do everything we can to protect New Jersey residents.”
