WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative David Schweikert (AZ-01) introduced the User Data Privacy Act, legislation that establishes requirements for websites and other digital platforms that collect and store information about their users, including information saved to a web browser to track a user over time.

Too many times, Americans fall victim to sharing information with hundreds of thousands of bad actors without their consent. This comprehensive legislation is a way for Congress to ensure that data brokers stop exploiting users for their information. 

“The only way we protect Americans, and their information is ensuring that personal data is a private property right, protected by the Constitution” said Congressman David Schweikert. “You should not only be able to get to choose who has access to that information, but what value access to that information has. This is the most wholistic solution of turning the internet back into the tool it was intended to be.“

Background on the User Data Privacy Act:  

• This bill establishes requirements for websites and other digital platforms that collect and store information about their users, including information saved to a web browser to track a user over time (i.e., cookies).
• Specifically, a website may not (1) use cookies or otherwise collect information about a user without the user’s consent, (2) restrict access to the website if a user declines such consent, (3) use pixel-sized images that are hidden or embedded in a web page that collect data about a user (i.e., tracking pixels), or (4) share a user’s information with other websites or online businesses.
• Further, if a user consents to the collection of information, the website must (1) disclose to the user what the information will be used for, and (2) treat any such information as an exclusive property right owned by the user.
• The bill provides for enforcement of these provisions by the Federal Trade Commission, state attorneys general, and private right of action.

The full text of the bill can be found here.