Scott Introduces DATA Act to Preserve Privacy

Florida Senator Rick Scott (R) introduced the Data and Algorithm Transparency Agreement (DATA) Act today, which increases transparency by requiring big tech companies like Facebook to receive express consent to use Americans’ personal information. The DATA Act will also provide Americans with legal recourse against big tech companies if there’s reason to believe that Americans' right to privacy has been violated.

In a statement, Scott detailed why the DATA Act is important to protect the privacy of Americans, warning that “the way big tech companies gather, manipulate and sell Americans’ personal data, all without consequence is alarming.” He called companies like Facebook and Twitter, “companies that censor free speech, and pick and choose which viewpoints are allowed on their platform.” “We have to hold these companies accountable and protect the rights of Americans,” he added, expressing that the legislation will “require greater transparency in how big tech collects and uses our personal information, and to provide a recourse for Americans if their privacy is violated.”

Ultimately, what the legislation will ensure is that Americans have “a say in what happens with their personal information.”

Specifically, the DATA Act “requires any internet platform, with an active monthly user base of 30 million or more U.S. users, that uses algorithms to increase or decrease the availability of content on its platform to” do the following:

They will “obtain user consent to collect data of the user’s preferences, habits, etc.,” they will “allow users to revoke or withdraw prior consent to data collection, and to request any user data previously collected be deleted or removed,” they will “obtain user consent to sell, share, or convey user data to a third-party entity,” they will “allow users to revoke or withdraw prior consent to sell, share, or convey the user’s data to a third-party entity,” and the companies will also be required to “provide a plain language notice to users of the above requirements (in addition to any terms of service notifications), which will appear each login, unless affirmatively waved by the user.”