Lawmakers Advance Data Privacy Bill That Brings Mixed Reviews

Lawmakers advanced a comprehensive proposal to give Americans rights over their personal data that has garnered praise but raises several concerns that signal difficult negotiations ahead.

Members of a House Energy and Commerce panel unanimously approved a draft version of the American Privacy Rights Act on Thursday. Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) originally negotiated the bill with Senate Commerce Chair Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) in a breakthrough bipartisan agreement they announced last month.

The legislation immediately drew widespread praise among lawmakers and industry advocates over its goal to create strong consumer data privacy rights and eliminate a complicated patchwork of state-level ...