Cruz Blocks Privacy Bill for All Americans
- On Monday, November 27, 2023, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) blocked a unanimous consent request to pass Senator ron Wyden's (D-OR) bill, S.2850,which would have expanded data privacy protections...
- Senator Wyden had sought unanimous consent to pass the bill, a procedural move that requires all senators to agree. Cruz's objection prevented the bill from moving forward quickly.
- The increasing availability of personal data through data brokers poses significant risks to individuals, including stalking, harassment, identity theft, and even physical harm.
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Ted Cruz Blocks Bill to extend Data Privacy Protections to All americans
What Happened
On Monday, November 27, 2023, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) blocked a unanimous consent request to pass Senator ron Wyden’s (D-OR) bill, S.2850,which would have expanded data privacy protections to all U.S. residents. The bill sought to apply provisions previously enacted to protect lawmakers and government officials from the sale of their personal information by data brokers to the entire population.
Senator Wyden had sought unanimous consent to pass the bill, a procedural move that requires all senators to agree. Cruz’s objection prevented the bill from moving forward quickly. The original bipartisan provisions, enshrined in S.2144, were designed to shield the addresses, family information, and other sensitive data of federal officials from being publicly accessible through data broker services.
Why This Matters: the Growing Threat to Personal Data
The increasing availability of personal data through data brokers poses significant risks to individuals, including stalking, harassment, identity theft, and even physical harm. Data brokers collect information from a wide range of sources – public records, online activity, purchase histories – and sell it to various entities, including marketers, employers, and even potentially malicious actors.
Wyden argued that extending these protections to all Americans is a matter of fundamental fairness and public safety. “Members of Congress should not receive special treatment,” he stated on the Senate floor. “Our constituents deserve protection from violence, stalking, and other criminal threats.” He also emphasized the national security implications, stating that protecting everyone is the most effective way to protect U.S. military and intelligence personnel, including undercover officers.
The issue gained prominence following reports of threats against lawmakers and their families, fueled by the easy accessibility of their personal information. Though, the threat extends far beyond public officials, impacting everyday citizens who are increasingly vulnerable to data breaches and the misuse of their personal data.
The Data Broker Industry: A Snapshot
The data broker industry is largely unregulated, operating with minimal oversight. While some states, like California, have enacted data privacy laws, a comprehensive federal framework is lacking. Here’s a look at some of the major players:
| Data Broker | Estimated Annual Revenue (USD) | Data Sources |
|---|---|---|
| Acxiom | $1.4 Billion | public records, consumer purchases, online activity |
| Experian | $4.6 billion (Total Revenue, Data Brokerage is a portion) | Credit reports, public records, marketing data |
| LexisNexis | $5.3 Billion (Total Revenue, Risk & Information Analytics) | Public records, court documents, financial data |
| TransUnion | $3.3 Billion | Credit reports, marketing data, identity verification |