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FEDERALhearing transcript

Senate Hearing on Consumer Privacy Protections

Original title: PROTECTING CONSUMER PRIVACY

January 1, 2023

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The Frame

What this does

The hearing explores the potential for new federal laws that would change how companies collect, store, and share personal data, which directly impacts the privacy rights and digital security of all internet users.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Technology Companies

These companies are subject to potential new federal privacy regulations that would govern their data collection and usage practices.

Consumers

Consumers are the subjects of the data collection practices being debated, and any new regulations would define their legal rights regarding personal information.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2023.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

This document is a transcript of a September 2021 Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation hearing regarding the need for federal consumer privacy legislation. Experts and lawmakers discussed the role of the Federal Trade Commission () and potential new rules for how technology companies handle user data.

Key Facts

  • The hearing took place on September 29, 2021, before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  • The committee reviewed the potential for new federal online privacy rules.
  • The record includes letters from various industry groups, including the Computer & Communications Industry Association and the National Retail Federation.
  • The record includes an op-ed by Senator Cynthia Lummis regarding the regulation of big tech.
  • The record includes a Wall Street Journal article regarding the FTC's consideration of new privacy rules.
  • Four expert witnesses provided testimony on privacy policy and technology.
  • The appendix contains responses to written questions submitted to witnesses by various Senators.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the purpose of this hearing?
The hearing was held to discuss consumer privacy and the potential for new federal regulations regarding how companies handle personal data.
Who testified at the hearing?
The witnesses included David C. Vladeck (Georgetown Law), Maureen K. Ohlhausen (Baker Botts), Ashkan Soltani (Independent Researcher), and Morgan Reed (ACT | The App Association).

Why It Matters

The hearing explores the potential for new federal laws that would change how companies collect, store, and share personal data, which directly impacts the privacy rights and digital security of all internet users.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Lobbying Activity

ADOBE INC

$450,000

2026

COMPUTER INDUSTRYDEFENSEGOVERNMENT ISSUESCOPYRIGHT/PATENT/TRADEMARK

IT Modernization and Digital Service delivery issues; Digital Service Delivery IT Acquisition, and Content Authenticity and digital provenance issues; Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI); artificial intelligence; content provenance; privacy; technology in and competition issues; AI innovation and the economy; Content provenance and AI Labelling; IT modernization; Support for H.R. 9112 - CREATOR Act

AARP

$4,110,000

2026

HEALTH ISSUESMEDICARE/MEDICAIDLAW ENFORCEMENT/CRIME/CRIMINAL JUSTICEPHARMACY

P.L. 119-21, One Big Beautiful Bill Act H.R. 8867, Planning for Long-term Aging Needs (PLAN) Act H.R. 5861, Legacy Act of 2025 H.R. 9393, the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act. H.R. 9396, the Prior Authorization Accountability Act. S. 4916, the Aging with Artificial Intelligence Act. H.R. 8100, Safe Staffing Saves Lives Act. S. 3886, Nurses Belong in Nursing Homes Act. H.R. 6766/S. 3492, the Essential Caregivers Act of 2025. H.R. 7966/S. 4118, Hospice Care Accountability, Reform, and Enforcement (Hospice CARE) Act. S. 2120, the Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2025 H.R. 5575, the Firefighters Assisting Seniors to Emergency Response (FASTER) Act of 2025. H.R. 3954/S. 4641, Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act. H.R.5554/S.2831, Stand Strong for Medicare Act. S. 3439/H.R. 6735, Connecting Caregivers to Medicare Act and efforts related to the bill S. 1227/H.R. 2491, Alleviating Barriers for Caregivers Act S. 668/H.R. 3183, Supporting Access to Falls Education and Prevention and Strengthening Training Efforts and Promoting Safety Initiatives (SAFE STEPS) for Veterans Act of 2025 CMS-1851-P, Hospice Proposed rule. CMS-1843-P, Skilled Nursing Facility Proposed rule. CMS-1844-P, Home Health Proposed rule. No bill number. Health care transparency. No bill number. Discussed use of artificial intelligence and health data technology. No bill number. Discussed health-related policies and activities around the fall respiratory virus season. No bill number. Discussed health insurance affordability proposals. No bill number. Discussed Nursing Home staffing standards, safety, and quality. No bill number. Discussed Nursing home transparency and ownership requirements. No bill number. Discussed home health, hospice, and long-term care. No bill number. Discussed falls prevention. No bill number. Discussed social isolation. No bill number. Discussed HUD Assisted Living Requirements No bill number. Discussed family caregiving. No bill number. Discussed AARP paper on Medicare Caregiver Training Services. No bill number. Discussed Medicaid community engagement interim final rule, including the family caregiver exemption. No bill number. Discussed the paid direct care workforce in long-term care. No bill number. Discussed the unaffordability of long-term care. No bill number. Discussed Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Demonstration Program and Medicaid HCBS spousal impoverishment protections. No bill number. Discussed Medicaid fraud and family caregivers, Medicaid self-direction programs. No bill number. Discussed sandwich generation family caregiver hearing and submitted a statement for the record discussing family caregivers and sandwich generation caregivers, programs that support them, AARP caregiving resources, and federal policies to support sandwich generation caregivers and caregivers more broadly. No bill number. Discussed long-term care. No bill number. CMS-2453-NC; Medicaid Program; 2028 Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Quality Measure Set Submitted comments No bill number. Discussed expanding access to home care. No bill number. Discussed the increasing cost of home care No bill number. Discussed HSA use for telehealth chronic care management services/subscriptions. No bill number. Discussed artificial intelligence and technology

Gen Digital Inc

on behalf of Gen Digital Inc (formerly NortonLifeLock Inc.)

$120,000

2026

COMPUTER INDUSTRY

Issues relating to data privacy Earned Wage Access Section 1033/Open Banking Rule (CFPB Reconsideration) GLBA modernization Community bank engagement with core and essential third party service providers (OCC RFI)

Gen Digital Inc

on behalf of Gen Digital Inc (formerly NortonLifeLock Inc.)

$120,000

2026

COMPUTER INDUSTRY

Issues relating to data privacy Earned Wage Access Section 1033/Open Banking Rule (CFPB Reconsideration) GLBA modernization Community bank engagement with core and essential third party service providers (OCC RFI)

ALLON ADVOCACY, LLC

on behalf of YODLEE INC.

1607 STRATEGIES, LLC

on behalf of American Property Casualty Insurance Association

2022

INSURANCECONSUMER ISSUES/SAFETY/PRODUCTSBUDGET/APPROPRIATIONS

Issues relating to the reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program and other issues related to flood insurance products. Marijuana impairment research. Issues relating to automobile insurance.

1607 STRATEGIES, LLC

on behalf of American Property Casualty Insurance Association

2022

INSURANCECONSUMER ISSUES/SAFETY/PRODUCTSBUDGET/APPROPRIATIONS

Issues relating to the reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program and other issues related to flood insurance products. Marijuana impairment research. S. 2428, False Claims Amendments Act of 2021, provisions affecting tort liability. Issues relating to cyber insurance. H.R. 1996, Secure and Fair Enforcement Banking Act of 2021, provisions relating to insurance of cannabis businesses.

121 Strategies & Government Relations

on behalf of Zebra Technologies

2020

COMPUTER INDUSTRYHOMELAND SECURITYSCIENCE/TECHNOLOGYHEALTH ISSUES

Consumer privacy, Connected enterprise devices.

1607 STRATEGIES, LLC

on behalf of CAPITAL ONE FINANCIAL CORPORATION

2020

BANKING

Issues related to the implementation of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, anti-money laundering and the Bank Secrecy Act, accounting standards for financial institutions, industrial loan charters, and privacy rules for financial institutions. H.R.6074, Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020, provisions affecting financial institutions and their customers. H.R.6201, Families First Coronavirus Response Act, provisions affecting financial institutions and their customers. H.R.6379, Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act, provisions affecting financial institutions and their customers. S.3548, CARES Act, provisions affecting financial institutions and their customers. H.R.748, CARES Act, provisions affecting financial institutions and their customers. H.R. 133, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, provisions related to coronavirus stimulus and relief.

121 Strategies & Government Relations

on behalf of Zebra Technologies

2020

COMPUTER INDUSTRYHOMELAND SECURITYSCIENCE/TECHNOLOGYHEALTH ISSUES

Consumer privacy, Connected enterprise devices.

Sponsors

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Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

cross reference90% confidence

Broad Industry Engagement

The hearing record includes formal letters from a wide range of industry groups, indicating significant lobbying activity from both tech and retail sectors regarding privacy legislation.

Connected Entities

personMaureen K. OhlhausenWitness, former Acting Chairman of the FTCMap →
personAshkan SoltaniWitness, former Chief Technologist at the FTCMap →
personMaria CantwellChair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and TransportationMap →
personMorgan ReedWitness, President of ACT | The App AssociationMap →
personRoger WickerRanking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and TransportationMap →
personDavid C. VladeckWitness, Professor at Georgetown Law and former FTC officialMap →
organizationFederal Trade CommissionPrimary federal agency discussed regarding privacy enforcementMap →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance65
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy40
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz20
    Current news / social attention level

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