Senator Maroney Leads Senate Passage of Consumer Privacy Bill Protecting Residents Personal Data

Today, state Senator James Maroney (D-Milford), Chair of the General Law Committee, led Senate passage of a bill that will safeguard Connecticut residents’ personal information from exploitation by data brokers, surveillance technology companies, and federal agencies.
 
Senate Bill 4, “An Act Concerning Consumer Privacy and Protection,” addresses a broad range of emerging privacy threats.
 
“Every Connecticut resident deserves to know that their personal information including where they live, where they worship, where they seek medical care isn’t being bought and sold without their knowledge or consent,” said Senator Maroney. “Senate Bill 4 puts people back in control of their own data. At the same time, we are making it clear that Connecticut will not be a place where surveillance technology is weaponized against our residents, whether by corporations or by federal agencies overstepping their authority, or used to charge you more than your neighbor.”
 
“Although there are great benefits to technological innovation, we also must be cognizant of the fact that our personal data is being sold, manipulated, and shared in a manner that undermines our constituents’ civil liberties,” said Senate President Martin Looney. “It is essential that we safeguard our constituents’ personal information. Privacy is a fundamental right.”
 
“We do not need to be concerned about becoming an Orwellian state,” said Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff. “We are already there. “Big Brother” is listening and if we do not act immediately, we may lose our inherent rights to privacy forever. I am proud of my colleagues and I today for passing this important piece of legislation that works to protect our community that works to protect our community from those who profit off our most sensitive personal information.”
 
Senate Bill 4 introduces comprehensive privacy measures that address emerging threats to consumer data. The bill tackles critical privacy concerns, including the lightly regulated sale of geolocation data, and facial recognition technology, and the exploitative practices of data brokers.
 
Senate Bill 4 will target the following specific threats to consumer privacy:
 

• Data brokers: Consumers may request, at no cost, the deletion of any personal data collected by a data broker.
• Facial recognition: Businesses using facial recognition in public spaces must disclose it at each entrance and provide a process for consumers to request removal of their images.
• Dynamic pricing: Strict disclosure requirements apply when businesses use algorithmic pricing to increase prices.
• Geolocation data: Controllers and processors are banned from selling or sharing precise geolocation data.
• Genetic Testing: Consumers would have the right to their own genetic data when using direct to consumer genetic testing services, and create more transparency in their policies.
• Volume of Ads: Streaming platforms cannot transmit the audio of any commercial advertisement at a volume that is louder than the volume established by the Federal Communications Commission for television commercials.

 
Real-World Harm Driving the Legislation
Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff submitted written testimony and explained how his friend and colleague, Minnesota Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, and her husband, Mark, were assassinated last summer. Although this terrible tragedy was widely reported in the news, what most people do not know is that the murderer, Vance Boelter, obtained Speaker Hortman’s residential address through data broker websites. For just a few dollars, anyone can gain access to personal sensitive information, including home addresses, phone numbers, and even photos of legislators’ homes and license plates.
 
Earlier this year, Wegmans disclosed the use of facial recognition in its stores, raising concerns that such data could be sold or shared with federal immigration agencies, a concern already realized with geolocation data, which ICE has purchased from commercial data brokers.
 
Senate Bill 4 now heads to the House.
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Michelle Rappaport | Michelle.Rappaport@cga.ct.gov| 860-240-8671