American Privacy Rights Act to Increase Costs
and Inconvenience for Millions
WASHINGTON, June 27,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Internet for Growth,
representing more than 2,000 small businesses depending on digital
advertising, expressed grave concerns about anti-advertising
provisions in the American Privacy Rights Act (APRA) H.R. 8818,
which will undergo markup by the U.S. House Energy and Commerce
Committee today.
Internet for Growth's leadership and members said that despite
their outreach to Congress, APRA's worst provisions remain.
Loopholes in exemptions for small businesses would expose them to
civil lawsuits under a new "private right of action," while APRA
would eliminate ordinary customer data and advertising practices.
Proposed data minimization rules define digital advertising as
non-essential.
"Small businesses have been pleading for a national privacy law
that preempts complicated state laws, but shockingly, APRA
incentivizes more and duplicates enforcement at the state and
federal levels. A misunderstanding of digital advertising and vague
wording guarantee ever-expanding internet regulations and a flood
of lawsuits," said Internet for Growth's Executive Director
Brendan Thomas.
"Digital advertising is essential to small businesses and
everyone's internet experience, creating speed, personalization and
convenience," he said. "Like the majority of Americans, we support
data privacy and security, but the average web user will not like
the effects of this bill, which will increase costs and
inconvenience for small businesses and consumers, and hurt
innovation, jobs and economic growth."
During National Small Business Week last month, Internet for
Growth led a delegation to Congress in Washington, D.C., to advocate for digital
advertising. To date, the organization has conducted nearly 100
meetings with congressional offices. Small businesses,
entrepreneurs, and creators across the country are
voicing their concerns in local news outlets and
have generated thousands of letters to Congress urging changes to
APRA.
Frank Swoboda, founder and CEO of
Corner Booth Media in Spokane,
Wash., and an Internet for Growth Advisory Council member,
has met several times with the office of Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Chair of the House
Energy and Commerce Committee and lead sponsor of APRA, to express
his concerns.
"Digital advertising is a vital resource for small businesses,
giving us equal footing to stand on as we compete against larger
corporations," said Swoboda. "Recently, I joined with other small
business owners to travel to Washington
D.C., and warn Congress, including my representative,
Cathy McMorris Rodgers, of the
dangers present in this bill. Washington
State depends on digital advertising to support businesses,
nonprofits, and much more. This legislation continues to miss the
mark and would set us back tremendously."
Internet for Growth, an initiative of the Interactive
Advertising Bureau, promotes the transformative role the
advertising-supported internet plays in empowering America's small
businesses, helping entrepreneurs bring their ideas to life.
Supported by a diverse community of over 700 IAB members including
marketers, agencies, publishers, platforms, and ad tech providers,
as well as hundreds of small businesses and creators, we highlight
the benefits digital advertising delivers to local economies,
expanding opportunities for innovators to reach markets far beyond
their neighborhoods. Our work ensures people understand the
limitless opportunity the internet provides for creativity and
commerce, fair competition, and connecting with consumers on
mutually shared values and interests, no matter their background or
geography.
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SOURCE Internet for Growth