Connecticut becomes the fourth state after California, Colorado, and Virginia to pass an act for the protection of consumers’ online data privacy. This happened on Wednesday, April 20, 2022, after the state’s bipartisan Senate adopted the SB 6 Act.
Through the passed bill, the state of Connecticut calls that the users of the internet should receive adequate data security. They should have maximum protection against unscrupulous use from social media and technology providers. The Connecticut State House of Representatives is expected to proffer its considerations for Senate Bill 6.
By activating SB 6 in Connecticut, the state could now provide adequate protection for personal data for its people. Consumers would have the right to control and maintain the privacy of their information and determine who could access them.
Some jurisdictions place measures for protecting consumers’ privacy data
As harvesting and reselling of consumers’ data rises, some jurisdictions are fast issuing some controlling measures. Europe enforced its sweeping rules known as General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in May 2018. The rules demanded that social media giants, the internet, and hardware tech, be more transparent and accountable for users’ data.
The launch of the GDPR led to the discovery of several cases of abuse, and subsequently, Europe issued many fines as penalties. It fined $68 million to Meta Platform, the Facebook owner, for violating the rules for the past 3 years. Also, it fined WhatsApp, Google, and Amazon $255 million, $68 million, and $877 million, respectively.
Thankfully, the United States has recently started its campaign for consumers’ data privacy protection. It formulated Senate Bill 6, which might not comprehensively curb privacy security, but will still serve as a huge step. The bill comprises five different aspects of users’ rights protection. It will give users control over the data the companies will collect, the ability to correct, delete, opt out, and the right to export their personal data.
The bill comes with more exposure to how personal data are run and managed through online activities. Whether the engagement gets to social networks, online purchasing sites, or browsing and surfing, consumers will get a clearer understanding. They could differentiate how the companies cash on their profits through the illegal use of people’s personal data. Also, consumers now have the right to object to any form of infiltration and selling of their private data.
Increased internet activities and technology gadgets pose threats of personal data compromise
To access some services over the internet, people provide personal data that online technological companies save in their databases. Tech companies are endlessly producing more technological gadgets, computers, smartphones, services, etc., that people must use.
Moreover, there are the social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and others where people engage using personal data. As a result, the service and technology providers have access to consumers’ personal data. Though the data enables the users to operate and engage on the platforms, the providers usually save the information on their databases.
Unfortunately, network and service providers could sell or use consumers’ private data for selfish and illegal purposes. Therefore, users need to understand the extent of personal data collation from the tech companies and their subsequent usage. For instance, if the operation of the service provider is a Controller, this means that it’s entirely an all-profit firm. So, it would earn by using consumers’ data as it wants without the users’ knowledge.
Thankfully, this recent bill will enable internet users to control what happens to their data over the internet. Now they can decide to allow or disallow the tech companies from using their data as they please.
