Big Tech Battles Consumer-Backed Privacy Bills in Massachusetts

Big Tech is lobbying against proposals by Massachusetts lawmakers that would boost consumer data privacy rights beyond the laws enacted in 20 other states—including language allowing residents to sue over violations.

Industry groups representing companies such as Amazon.com Inc. and eBay Inc. warned legislators at a Wednesday hearing that pending privacy measures would impose unworkable data-handling requirements and complicate compliance with differing standards across the country. Consumer advocates supporting the bills argued Massachusetts should improve upon state privacy laws in effect elsewhere that they contend do little to protect the data of millions of Americans.

The debate is playing out ...