WASHINGTON-The Privacy Coalition is calling on lawmakers at the state and federal levels to sign what it is calling a privacy pledge.
The privacy pledge says that “privacy is one of America’s most fundamental values.” It then goes onto to recite the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution-which protects citizens from unlawful search and seizure-before laying out a framework that the lawmakers would agree to safeguard. The framework includes:
Fair Information Practices, including the right to access information that is collected and limit the use of that information by the collector;
Independent enforcement and oversight;
The promotion of genuine privacy-enhancing technologies that would limit the collection of personally identifiable information including wireless location tracking; and
A foundation of federal law that would still allow for states and the private sector to enact stricter rules.
The Privacy Coalition is made up of various privacy and consumer advocates including the Electronic Privacy Information Center. EPIC has been involved with encryption policy as well as a recent lawsuit requiring the FBI to release information on its Internet surveillance tool known as Carnivore. Members of the coalition claim it is the only organization with privacy in its name that actually has privacy-orientated groups involved.
“The loss of privacy has become an increasing concern to Americans,” said EPIC executive director Marc Rotenberg last week at a press conference announcing the privacy pledge.
“Law-abiding citizens are tired of this snooping and snitching of private information,” said Laurie Cole of the Eagle Forum, another member of the Privacy Coalition.
“You need to address privacy comprehensively. Online, offline and wireless communications. … Our message to Congress is you have to do this comprehensively and do this right,” said Evan Hendricks, editor of Privacy Times, a newsletter dedicated to privacy issues.
Privacy is expected to be a key topic for lawmakers this year. Recently Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.), chairman of the House consumer protection subcommittee, said privacy would be a focus of a hearing within the next month. Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont.) is expected to introduce legislation to address the issue in what he says will be a pro-business method. He expects, but is not sure, the measure will pass this year. Burns has been a sponsor of previous attempts at privacy legislation.
