House bill would enhance internet privacy protections for consumers

Donald Trump signed into law last month a bill that strips you of your ability stop internet service providers (ISP) from selling your private browsing information.

This means if you’ve ever typed your Social Security into an online form, your ISP could collect it and sell it according to congressional experts.

I think that is wrong, and I have heard from many constituents about their concerns about this change in federal policy. The internet has become ubiquitous and it is increasingly difficult to conduct our lives without entering personal information on the internet. ISPs should not be allowed to sell your personal information without your permission.

That is why I joined 73 of my colleagues (a supermajority of the House) to introduce HB 2200.

Our bill would create new internet privacy protections enforceable under the Washington Consumer Protection Act, including:

• Compelling transparency by making ISP privacy policies available to customers so they know what to expect.
• Protecting privacy by prohibiting ISPs from selling or using private information (such as a person’s browsing history) without consent.
• Requiring ISPs to report to customers when they have been hacked and personal data has been breached so customers can protect themselves.

Consumers should have the option to keep their personal browser history private.

This is an important consumer protection measure that enjoys wide bipartisan support, and I look forward to seeing it land on the governor’s desk for his signature.

Thank you,