Groups say patchwork of state laws harms businesses and consumers

Multiple associations are urging federal lawmakers to adopt a new nationwide online privacy law that would supersede state laws like the one in place in California.

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TechNet announced Thursday the launch of the "United for Privacy" campaign, which will "bring a unified, cross-industry voice to Congress underscoring the urgent need to pass a national privacy law in 2022," according to a statement. The campaign kicked off with a letter from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and more than 80 national and state associations urging lawmakers to adopt uniform privacy standards.

"Right now, job creators are spending far too many resources to comply with a patchwork of state privacy laws," TechNet CEO Linda Moore said. "They're exposed to constant legal battles that jeopardize their business. This isn't a tech sector problem, it's an every sector problem."

California was the first state to adopt an online privacy law in 2003. It strengthened those standards in 2018 with the California Consumer Privacy Act, which was modeled on the European Union's stricter General Data Protection Regulation.

Consumer advocates argue such protections are needed to regulate how large tech companies such as Google and Facebook use and sell the information they collect from people who use their services. California's consumer privacy law gives consumers the right to opt out of data collection and demand that their data be deleted, but it generally applies to only very large companies.

So far California, Colorado and Virginia are the only states with comprehensive online privacy laws, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Business groups have usually advocated for privacy laws that are far less strict than the ones sought by consumer advocates.

On the campaign's website, TechNet doesn't spell out what it is seeking in a nationwide privacy law. The group instead notes that 31 states have introduced comprehensive privacy regulations because there's been no federal action.