Harrisburg, Pa. August 4, 2022 − State Senators Maria Collett (D-12 Montgomery/Bucks) and Lisa Boscola (D-18 Lehigh/Northampton) will soon introduce legislation to protect Pennsylvanians’ privacy rights and empower consumers in the digital age.

“We are living more of our lives online than ever – from shopping to working, banking and connecting on social media – and companies are making record profits from selling our data,” said Sen. Collett. “It’s our responsibility as legislators to keep up with the times and make sure Pennsylvanians’ privacy is prioritized. This bill would increase data transparency and let consumers call the shots when it comes to the monetization of their personal information.”

Sen. Lisa Boscola is proud of the bill’s emphasis on protecting consumers of all ages, “This legislation is about protecting your household’s consumer data, especially for your children, by banning the sale of all data of consumers under the age of 16.”

Collett and Boscola’s legislation will protect consumers by:

  • Alerting them about what personal information is being collected about them, whether it is being is sold or disclosed and, if so, to whom;
  • Letting them decline or opt-out of the sale of their personal information;
  • Allowing them to access their personal information that has been collected; and
  • Banning the sale of all private information for consumers under the age of 16.

As a companion to Representative Ed Neilson’s HB 1126, this legislation would only target companies that derive at least half of their revenues from selling consumer data to third parties, minimizing the inconvenience and cost to Pennsylvania’s small businesses.

If passed, Pennsylvania would join five other states that have enacted comprehensive privacy laws: California, Connecticut, Colorado, Utah, and Virginia.

###