[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 6 (Saturday, January 20, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E29-E30]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


               CONSUMER INTERNET PRIVACY ENHANCEMENT ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ANNA G. ESHOO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Saturday, January 20, 2001

  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, today as we inaugurate a new President, we 
inaugurate a critical beginning by introducing legislation which will 
protect what is a core value of every American--privacy. When any of us 
provide an institution with personal information, we expect the 
information to be used in the narrowest sense. Representative Cannon 
and I strongly believe that while the Internet has opened up an 
entirely new world, it has also created problems we have never before 
encountered. Information about Internet users

[[Page E30]]

can now be accessed in an instant, and often times with the user being 
completely unaware that his or her information is moving down the 
information superhighway at lightning speed. The bipartisan legislation 
we've introduced today will help to assure the security Americans 
expect when it comes to their privacy.
  The legislation requires Web sites to conspicuously post clear and 
concise information about their policies relative to how personal 
information collected from online users is used. Companies will be 
required to disclose exactly who is collecting the information, how it 
will be used, the types of data being collected and whether consumers 
have to provide personal information in order to use a Web site. 
Companies also would have to take steps to secure personal information 
once it is in their databases.
  Perhaps most importantly, Internet users will be able to assess a 
company's privacy policy before registering at a Web site, or 
purchasing merchandise over the Internet, and then control the extent 
to which their personal information can be used by the company. 
Companies that violate the requirements could face civil penalties of 
$22,000 per violation, up to a maximum fine of $500,000. The U.S. 
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) would enforce the provisions.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague, Representative Chris 
Cannon, our colleague, who joins me in introducing this bill today. 
Representative Cannon is a leader in protecting the civil rights of 
Americans. His work on this bill has been critical and he once again 
demonstrates his leadership on the issue of privacy. I'd also like to 
acknowledge the original authors of this legislation in the Senate--
Senators Kerry of Massachusetts and McCain of Arizona.
  Mr. Speaker, Representative Cannon and I believe this legislation can 
become the backbone of a new law in privacy for America. We look 
forward to working with the entire House to move this bill through the 
107th Congress.

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