Online Protection

As more and more consumer activity moves to the Internet, we have a responsibility to protect the personal information of the public. I have been a strong supporter of efforts to safeguard personal information and an opponent of legislation that would threaten civil liberties in cyberspace.

While employers, schools, and colleges have always been interested in the social networking content posted by their employees, students, and applicants, they have only recently begun to demand password and other login information as a term or enrollment or employment. I have introduced legislation that would restrict the ability of employers and schools from requiring such personal information.

As a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, I have had an opportunity to actively engage in American intelligence policymaking and oversight.

Legislation I've Introduced

Social Networking Online Protection Act (SNOPA) - Congressman Elliot Engel and I introduced the Social Networking Online Protection Act (SNOPA), which would restrict employers, universities, and local education authorities from requiring the disclosure of personal account information by employees, students, or applicants. SNOPA will ensure that personal accounts remain private, and I am working to see bipartisan legislation signed into law.

More on Online Protection

Schakowsky, Colleagues Seek Answers from Amazon on Use of Patient Data 
August 2, 2023
Press Release
WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), a Chief Deputy Whip and the Ranking Member of the Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, led her Democratic colleagues on the subcommittee in sending a letter to Amazon CEO Andy Jassy raising concerns about data privacy shortfalls and HIPAA violations related to the use and transfer of health data gathered from users of Amazon Clinic. This letter comes at the same time Amazon announced the expansion of its virtual clinic, which will now be available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Issues: Privacy Online Protection Health
Schakowsky, Castor Introduce Legislation to Hold Online Platforms Accountable
July 25, 2023
Press Release
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), a Chief Deputy Whip and Ranking Member of the Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and U.S. Representative Kathy Castor (FL-14), Ranking Member of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, reintroduced the Online Consumer Protection Act (OCPA). This legislation addresses the shortcomings of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which, along with overly broad court rulings on it, have failed to hold online platforms accountable to consumers.
Issues: Consumer Protection Online Protection
FTC Implements Schakowsky-Bilirakis Law to Better Protect Consumers
June 22, 2023
Press Release
WASHINGTON – This week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sent letters to 50 online marketplaces nationwide notifying them about their obligation to comply with the new Integrity, Notification, and Fairness in Online Retail Marketplaces for Consumers (INFORM Consumers) Act, which was authored by Representatives Jan Schakowsky and Gus Bilirakis. The FTC advised businesses that they must be in full compliance by June 27, 2023 or face enforcement that could result in civil penalties for violations.
Issues: Consumer Protection Online Protection
Schakowsky Statement on Meta’s Promotion of Child Exploitation
June 8, 2023
Press Release
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), a Chief Deputy Whip and Ranking Member of the Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, released the following statement after a Wall Street Journal report found that Instagram’s algorithm promoted pedophilia content and connected users searching for such content:
Issues: Consumer Protection Children's Product Safety Online Protection
Schakowsky Statement on Supreme Court’s Section 230 Rulings
May 19, 2023
Press Release

WASHIGNTON – Today, U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), a Chief Deputy Whip and Ranking Member of the Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee, released the following statement on the Supreme Court’s decision to sidestep requests to limit Section 230:

Issues: Consumer Protection Online Protection
Schakowsky Statement on TikTok’s Responses to Questions for the Record
May 9, 2023
Press Release
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), a Chief Deputy Whip and Ranking Member on the Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee, released the following statement after reviewing TikTok’s responses to the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Questions for the Record:
Issues: Consumer Protection Privacy Online Protection
Schakowsky Statement on FTC’s Proposed Ban on Facebook Monetizing Children’s Data
May 4, 2023
Press Release
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), a Chief Deputy Whip and Ranking Member on the Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee, released the following statement on the FTC’s proposed ban on Facebook monetizing children’s data:
Issues: Consumer Protection Privacy Online Protection
Jan's Plans & Pans - May 2, 2023
May 2, 2023
Video
The Constitution makes it very clear that it is the duty of the United States to pay its debts. Nowhere in the Constitution does it justify sending our economy into a tailspin to avoid paying our bills. My Republican colleagues were content when Donald Trump raised the debt ceiling three times and gave the wealthiest Americans $2 trillion in tax cuts, but for some reason they have a problem with families trying to put food on the table and veterans trying to access health care. 
Issues: Seniors Women's Issues Pay Equity Consumer Protection Privacy Online Protection Financial Protections Economy, Jobs & Taxes Commonsense Budgeting for All Mental Health
Schakowsky, Lawmakers Reiterate Concern over Big Tech Pushing Digital Trade Rules that Conflict with Biden Competition Agenda and Pending Legislation
April 24, 2023
Press Release
WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), a Chief Deputy Whip and Ranking Member on the Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee, joined six of her colleagues in sending a letter to the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai and Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, reiterating concerns about the impact that including skewed digital trade rules in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) will have on the U.S. government’s ability to promote competition, regulate AI, and protect consumer and worker privacy. The lawmakers are also urging USTR to prioritize transparency as they continue to negotiate IPEF.
Issues: Consumer Protection Privacy Online Protection Foreign Policy/National Security Trade
Jan's Plans & Pans - March 28, 2023
March 28, 2023
Video

Last week, I had the unique responsibility of questioning the CEO of TikTok when he came before the Energy and Commerce Committee. It is clear to me that in most ways, TikTok is like all the other Big Tech companies. They can use Americans’ data any way they want. Exclusively banning TikTok would be letting Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms off the hook and would leave our consumers and our children unprotected. We need a comprehensive data privacy bill.

Issues: Seniors Women's Issues Women's Health Consumer Protection Online Protection Energy & Environment Clean Air/Clean Water Public Libraries/Museums Health Global Health Health Care Workforce Foreign Policy/National Security Global Women