The Internet Association and U.S. Chamber of Commerce have each released a set of principles for protecting consumer information on the internet ahead of a congressional hearing on the subject.

The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation has scheduled a Sept. 26 hearing on online privacy protections that will feature six of the nation's largest technology companies and internet providers, the tech news site ZDNet reported. The companies are Apple, Amazon, AT&T, Charter, Google and Twitter. https://zd.net/2NdxJHN

The hearing comes as tech companies come under increased scrutiny for how they handle private information collected from consumers. In response, IA recently released a set of privacy principles the group said should inform any policy decisions on the subject. The association represents online companies such as eBay, Facebook, and Google.

"Data has revolutionized every part of our economy and our lives, both online and offline," IA CEO Michael Beckerman said. "Businesses and nonprofits of all sizes, in every sector of the economy, have integrated data into their products and services to the benefit of consumers, which is why internet companies support an economy-wide, national approach to regulation that protects the privacy of all Americans."

Among other things, IA's principles call for giving consumers transparency about how their personal information is shared; control on how the information is used; access to the information; and the ability to correct any information collected by companies. http://bit.ly/2xaQIZl

The Chamber outlines similar goals in its principles. At the same time, the business group stresses that enforcement of alleged privacy violations "should only apply where there is concrete harm to individuals."

"Advances in technology have empowered businesses and consumers alike, and policies to address these changes should reflect both the significant impact of the tech ecosystem on the economy and the importance of the responsible use of consumer data," said Tim Day, senior vice president of C_TEC, the Chamber's Technology Engagement Center. https://uscham.com/2NHyl7U

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