Gillibrand Bill Would Create New Data Protection Agency

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) has introduced legislation that would create a new federal agency dedicated to data protection and digital privacy. The Data Protection Agency would have a presidentially appointed director serving a five-year term. It would coordinate efforts among federal agencies to enforce federal privacy laws, help industry develop its own rules and policies, respond to consumer complaints, study high-risk data privacy practices, and conduct investigations and audits of covered entities. It would also look at how emerging technologies – such as deepfake audio/video or changes in encryption – affect the overall privacy landscape, and advise Congress on legislative solutions.