A sweeping bill designed to protect online privacy was introduced today by Sen. Fritz Hollings (D-SC).
Among other things, the Online Privacy Protection Act of 2002 would require that individuals opt in before a company collect or use sensitive data about them. That would include health and medical information, security passwords and any indication of religious beliefs or sexual preference.
In addition, consumers would have to be given “robust notice” and a chance to opt out prior to the use of non-sensitive data, including contact and transactional information.
And Internet companies would have to provide “reasonable access” to consumers to the data collected about them, and give them a chance to correct or delete it.
Violators would face action by the Federal Trade Commission. Moreover, Internet users would be able sue violators in federal court, and recover up to $100,000 in damages for repeated infractions.
The Direct Marketing Association did not take an immediate position on the bill.
“It is too soon to decide whether this bill should be considered detrimental to the future growth of the direct and interactive marketing industry,” said DMA president H. Robert Wientzen in a statement.
But Wientzen added, “If there is going to be legislation
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