A Group of 34 Civil Rights, Consumer, and Privacy Organizations Release Principles for Privacy Legislation

Note: As of today (November 13) no library groups are have signed this document. 
From a Joint News Release (via New America Foundation):

Today, 34 civil rights, consumer, and privacy organizations join in releasing public interest principles for privacy legislation, because the public needs and deserves strong and comprehensive federal legislation to protect their privacy and afford meaningful redress.
Irresponsible data practices lead to a broad range of harms, including discrimination in employment, housing, healthcare, and advertising. They also lead to data breaches and loss of individuals’ control over personal information. Existing enforcement mechanisms fail to hold data processors accountable and provide little-to-no relief for privacy violations.
The privacy principles outline four concepts that any meaningful data protection legislation should incorporate at a minimum:

• Privacy protections must be strong, meaningful, and comprehensive.
• Data practices must protect civil rights, prevent unlawful discrimination, and advance equal opportunity.
• Governments at all levels should play a role in protecting and enforcing privacy rights.
• Legislation should provide redress for privacy violations.

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The groups urge members of Congress to pass privacy legislation that ensures fairness, prevents discrimination, advances equal opportunity, protects free expression, and facilitates trust between the public and companies that collect their personal data.
New America’s Open Technology Institute, Public Knowledge, Access Humboldt, Access Now, Berkeley Media Studies Group, Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, Center for Democracy & Technology, Center for Digital Democracy, Center for Media Justice, Center on Privacy & Technology at Georgetown Law, Color of Change, Common Cause, Common Sense Kids Action, Consumer Action, Consumer Federation of America, Consumers Union, Customer Commons, Demand Progress, Free Press Action Fund, Human Rights Watch, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Media Alliance, Media Mobilizing Project, National Association of Consumer Advocates, National Consumer Law Center, National Consumers League, National Digital Inclusion Alliance, National Hispanic Media Coalition, Oakland Privacy, Open MIC (Open Media and Information Companies Initiative), Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, Public Citizen, U.S. PIRG, and United Church of Christ, OC Inc. signed the principles. Additional local and national privacy advocates are encouraged to sign on.

Direct to Full Text: Public Interest Privacy Legislation Principles
3 pages; PDF.
See Also: Statement From CDT
See Also: Statement from Public Knowledge

Filed under: Associations and Organizations, Data Files, Libraries, News