Six Lines

Obama Administration Backs Privacy Law

Posted by Aaron Massey on 17 Mar 2011.

Computerworld is reporting that the Obama administration wants a new online data privacy law. The proposed law will likely be based on recommendations from the Department of Commerce. Whether you like those proposals or not, it’s hard to argue with this part of the Computerworld article:

Erica Newland, a policy analyst at the Center for Democracy and Technology, today said that the White House’s support for a new privacy bill will help its passage in Congress.

“This is incredibly significant that the White House has backed comprehensive privacy legislation,” Newland said. The support signals the importance of the issue, she said. The fact that the Commerce Department is solidly behind the bill is also noteworthy because it highlights the broad industry support that appears to exist for a privacy bill.

Definitely something to watch in the next few weeks.