The House Energy and Commerce Committee on Thursday abruptly canceled the scheduled markup of a federal data privacy bill along with several other measures in the face of a torrent of opposition to the privacy measure from the tech industry and civil rights organizations.
Opponents of the measure have called on committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., and the top Democrat, New Jersey Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., to postpone the markup since the two lawmakers unveiled a modified version of an earlier draft legislation that was advanced by a subcommittee in May.
The updated version released on June 21 struck key provisions that would have prohibited companies from collecting, processing or retaining data on users that results in discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion and other categories. It also cut a section on consumers’ right to opt out of algorithmic decisions, including for housing, health care and credit. Companies would’ve been required to offer users the opportunity to opt out under the earlier draft.
