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General Assembly Approves Corman's Privacy Protection Legislation
HARRISBURG -- Responding
to increasing public concern over identity theft and other privacy issues, the
General Assembly unanimously approved a bill sponsored by Sen. Jake Corman
(R-Centre) that would crack down on those who use misuse personal information
provided in privacy statements.
Senate Bill 705
would expand the definition of deceptive or fraudulent business practices to
include someone who knowingly makes a false or misleading statement in a privacy
policy regarding the use of personal information submitted by individuals. The
bill would apply to privacy policies published on the Internet or otherwise
distributed to the public.
“This legislation will penalize
those companies that mislead consumers into giving personal information over the
internet, then use that information in direct violation of the company’s
published privacy statement,” Corman said.
Under Corman’s
bill, such a violation would be considered a summary offense, and those found
guilty could be fined between $50 and $500 for each violation.
Corman, who chairs
the Senate Communications and Technology Committee, said the bill is part of a
comprehensive privacy package he has developed to better protect Pennsylvania
residents in the information age.
“In a world where
information is the hottest commodity around, we – as a society and individuals –
have to take a hard look at where the right to know ends and our right to
privacy begins.”
Corman noted that consumers
have increasingly expressed concerns about invasions of their privacy and
personal lives. A recent Gallop poll found that Americans are deeply concerned
about the confidentiality of their medical information. Corman said the growth
of the Internet has also contributed to concerns about information tracking and
data collection and misuse.
He said the privacy issue is
especially timely, giving the soaring amount of data that is now being
collected, examined and marketed over the Internet, often without the knowledge
of consumers.
Senate Bill 705 is now
before the Governor for his signature to become law.
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