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
During today's hearing with Facebook, Google, and Twitter CEOs, I asked about their platforms' involvement with the organization of the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6th.
CEOs from Facebook, Google, and Twitter testified before a joint hearing of the Consumer Protection and the Communications Subcommittees. I co-chaired the hearing and offered these opening remarks.
WASHINGTON - Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, a Senior Chief Deputy Whip and Chair of the Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee, announced the introduction of a package of legislation to address serious problems that have emerged during the COVID-19 crisis.
EVANSTON - As tech companies and public health agencies deploy new tools to fight the spread of COVID-19 – including contact tracing apps, digital monitoring, home tests, and vaccine appointment booking – U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Mark Warner (D-VA) and U.S. Representatives Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), and Suzan DelBene (D-WA) introduced the Public Health Emergency Privacy Act to set strong and enforceable privacy and data security rights for health information.
EVANSTON – Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, a Senior Chief Deputy Whip, released the following statement on her reappointment as Chairwoman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce's Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee:
"I'm honored to have been selected by my colleagues to serve a second term as chair the Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee. Consumer protection is what drew me to public life, and I will continue to focus on the safety of products our families, especially our children, use every day.
EVANSTON, IL – Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, a Senior Chief Deputy Whip and Chairwoman of the Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee, issued the following statement in response to the successful amendment in the United Kingdom's House of Lords to the proposed US-UK Trade bill:
WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, a Senior Chief Deputy Whip and Chairwoman of the Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee, react to the announcements from Twitter and Facebook regarding President Trump's accounts:
"Today's actions by Facebook and Twitter are too little, too late, in light of yesterday's violence, as is almost always the case.
WASHINGTON – On Monday, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), a Senior Chief Deputy Whip, and Chair of the Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee, voted for legislation to provide relief to families and small businesses struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation passed also includes comprehensive funding language to keep the federal government in operation through the 2021 fiscal year.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed three bills from the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce, which I chair. H.R. 6435 addresses the rising number of scam artists and fraudsters looking to take advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic. It directs the Federal Trade Commission to develop and disseminate information to the public about known scams and ways to protect themselves.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed three bills from the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce, which I chair. This bill, H.R. 2610, specifically addresses fraud targeted at senior citizens and Native American tribes, including pandemic-related schemes.
