Trade Groups Urge Congress to Beef Up Federal Data Privacy Power

A coalition of more than 20 lobbying groups is pushing Congress to modify draft consumer privacy legislation to ensure the new federal law will preempt what they see as a patchwork of state regulations.

The draft American Privacy Rights Act “falls short of creating a uniform national standard,” United for Privacy, a coalition led by TechNet, said in a letter Monday.

“Without full preemption of state laws, APRA will add to the privacy patchwork, create confusion for consumers and hinder economic growth,” the groups wrote to House Energy and Commerce Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) and ranking member Frank Pallone ...