While myriad attempts to pass federal privacy legislation have all fizzled out in recent years, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Senate Commerce Committee Chairwoman Maria Cantwell (D-WA) recently introduced the American Privacy Rights Act of 2024 as a compromise approach that could pass both chambers.
But before it does, it’s worth considering whether the United States really wants to follow the European privacy model, which has led to much confusion and consumer harm.
Under the APRA, internet users would be served far more ads, but less relevant ones, with negative consequences for consumers, businesses, content creators, and online platforms alike.
Much like the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation, the APRA would erect barriers to the collection and use of data for targeted advertising. It also appears to forbid…
