Wicker, Blackburn Bow Data Privacy Bill

Senate Republicans introduced legislation Wednesday that would allow the FTC to oversee data use practices of common carriers and nonprofits. The Setting an American Framework to Ensure Data Access, Transparency and Accountability (Safe Data) Act -- from Senate Commerce Committee ranking member Roger Wicker, Miss., and Senate Consumer Protection Subcommittee ranking member Marsha Blackburn, Tenn. -- would allow the FTC to develop new rules on categories of sensitive data and require the agency to maintain a data broker registry. Consumers would be able to access, correct, delete and port data under the legislation. It would bar companies from processing or transferring user data without user consent.