Eshoo, Lofgren Introduce Bill to Create New Data Privacy Agency

California Democratic Reps. Anna Eshoo and Zoe Lofgren introduced legislation Tuesday to create an independent digital privacy agency within the executive branch (see 1911040049), as expected (see 1906250033). A president-appointed director would lead the new agency for a five-year term. The Online Privacy Act also would grant rights for U.S. citizens to access, correct or delete their data, plus rights to determine how long companies can keep data. Companies would need to receive consent from users in “plain, simple language,” said the bill. Public Knowledge praised the bill, with Policy Counsel Dylan Gilbert highlighting that it “provides a federal ‘floor’ of privacy protections and offers individuals the ability to enforce violations of their privacy rights through a private right of action.”