Springfield, IL – Consumer Reports announced its support today for SB 340, legislation that would create a set of baseline consumer rights, including the right to access, delete, and stop the sale of their personal information. Notably, the bill would create strong data minimization provisions relating to sensitive data, preventing companies from collecting or using consumers’ sensitive data unless necessary to provide the requested product or service. The bill would also outright prohibit the sale of a consumer’s most sensitive data.
“Consumers’ sensitive information is routinely sold to dozens of third-party businesses that have no right to it,” said Matt Schwartz, senior policy analyst at Consumer Reports. “This has led to a variety of harms, including stalking, identity theft, and unfair pricing schemes. The Illinois Consumer Data Privacy Act, while imperfect in many ways, would help put a stop to this practice. We hope that the House will advance this legislation, and ideally, strengthen several key provisions in the process.”
CR urges the House to address several outstanding concerns with the bill, including:
- Improving the bill’s data minimization standard for non-sensitive personal information;
- Restoring meaningful enforcement provisions, including some version of a private right of action;
- Strengthening the definition of targeted advertising; and
- Eliminating entity-level carveouts.
Contact: cyrus.rassool@consumer.org