Key Privacy/Data Security Takeaways: Senate Commerce Committee's FTC Hearing

On Tuesday, April 20, the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee held a hearing on the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) authority to protect consumers.

The hearing featured discussion from lawmakers on the federal data privacy landscape, with Ranking Member Roger Wicker (R-MS) reiterating the need for a strong federal privacy standard.

With respect to key components of a federal privacy law, Acting FTC Chairwoman Rebecca Kelly Slaughter outlined the need for privacy legislation to give the FTC more clear rulemaking authority, impose civil penalties on violators, and establish meaningful limitations on how data is collected and used. She further cautioned against relying on a notice and consent framework and highlighted the connection between consumer protection and competition, asserting that the issues should be jointly considered. In addition, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) asserted that consumers should have the right to opt-in to the use of