James Maroney

Senate Passes Bill That Incorporates Legislation To Protect Consumer’s Data Privacy

Today, the state Senate voted and passed a bill that includes multiple regulations and policies that will now head to the House. Senate Bill 1202, ‘An Act Concerning Provisions Related to Revenue And Other Items To Implement The State Budget For The Biennium Ending June 30, 2023’ includes a provision that will protect consumer’s online data.

Senate Bill 893, ‘An Act Concerning Consumer Privacy,’ has been condensed into a provision of SB 1202. State Senator James Maroney (D-Milford), Chair of the General Law Committee, and Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) have dedicated themselves to working on and passing this legislative session.

Senate Bill 893 was voted out of the General Law committee and has now been passed in a condensed version under SB 1202 during today’s special session.

“It is my goal to make consumers feel safe and feeling like their information isn’t being taken without their consent,” said Sen. Maroney. “My hope is that consumers feel more comfortable and have more trust in their mobile devices; that their data isn’t being collected without their knowledge. This legislation ensures transparency within companies and consumers, therefore guaranteeing that consumers know just how much of their information is being collected and are given the right to control what is done with that data.”

“The residents of Connecticut deserve a bill of rights to protect their privacy,” said Senator Duff. “Large technology corporations continue to hide behind complex legal agreements to use your data for their own profit. Consumers deserve a sense of security of their privacy online. This policy allows for each resident in the state to feel safe when they use any electronic device.”

Under this provision in SB 1202, it creates a consumer data bill of rights. Companies will be required to clearly cite a privacy policy telling consumers what data is being collected, how it is being used, and why. This way, consumers are aware and have the right of knowing what information is being collected from them, the ability to see and fix any false data that is collected from them, and the right to have any collected data be deleted.

This bill also prohibits companies from discriminating against those who choose to exercise these rights. This bill will also provide protection over user information, thus preventing companies from abusing their data. Senate Bill 893 requires companies to lessen the amount of data they collect and only use it for the purposes they are collected it for; therefore having less data breaches and identity theft.

Last week on June 7, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong warned consumers that Amazon will automatically connect their smart home devices and products to a new shared network called ‘Amazon Sidewalk.’ With Amazon automatically connecting consumer’s electronic devices to a new shared network, if a person was unaware this was happening, they give up their right to protect their personal data. This legislation ensures new regulations and policies will be put into place that protects a consumer from future unknown data sharing with their devices.

This legislation ensures transparency within companies and consumers, therefore guaranteeing that consumers know just how much of their information is being collected and are given the right to control what is done with that data.

This bill now heads to the House of Representatives. If signed into law, it will take effect January 1, 2023.