The letter stated:

“Consumers have more options than ever when it comes to goods, services, information and entertainment. Data-driven innovation, digital advertising and investment enable consumers to take advantage of faster, higher quality and customized services at lower costs. This Fourth Industrial Revolution, which relies on data and technology, requires policies that respect individual privacy, promote choice and competition while spurring innovation. Legal certainty is crucial for achieving these goals, and it is incumbent that consumers have assurance that their data is safeguarded and used responsibly.

As representatives of businesses who serve those consumers, we request that Congress undertake the legislative action needed for a comprehensive national privacy law. Such action will increase access to employment, education, health care, communications and the ability to meet family needs. Furthermore, a national privacy standard will help start-ups and Main Street businesses compete on a broader scale, helping to lower prices and widen consumer access to goods and services. These policies are also necessary due to technological developments, including the increased application of artificial intelligence throughout the economy.”

NACS and its co-signers asked Congress for the following principles to achieve this goal:

• A National Privacy Framework: Congress should adopt a federal privacy framework that fully preempts state laws related to data privacy and security to establish a uniform privacy standard.
• Individual Rights: People should have the right to determine how personal information is used, collected and shared.
• Transparency: Federal privacy legislation should require companies to disclose their data practices in a public privacy policy.
• Responsible Data Use: Companies should limit the collection of personal data to what is reasonably necessary in relation to the purposes of which that personal data is processed, as disclosed to the consumer.
• Security: Organizations processing consumer data should establish, implement and maintain reasonable administrative, technical and physical security practices that are appropriate to the volume and nature of the data being used.
• Preserving Beneficial Data Uses: Federal privacy legislation should explicitly preserve the processing of personal data for beneficial purposes.
• Small Business Protections: Small businesses should benefit from federal preemption while also not being required to have the same compliance burden as larger companies.
• Reasonable Enforcement and Collaborative Compliance: Federal privacy legislation should encourage cooperation between the business community and government, not promote adversarial action that results in frivolous litigation.

NACS Contact:
Jeff Lenard
V.P., Strategic Industry Initiatives
703-518-4272
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