As the presidential election approaches, there are many issues on voters' minds, and one that may not get much attention in the coming weeks is the way data is protected and exchanged online.
The latest party platform from Republicans states that it wants to see more support for Internet freedom and increased data protection, and more privacy from aerial drones, according to a report from Ars Technica. But at the same time, it takes a strong stand against the Federal Communications Commission's Net neutrality efforts, essentially calling it unnecessary regulation. Further, it wants the federal government involved in offensive cybersecurity measures, rather than just defensive ones.
And while the GOP has stated that consumers' private data should remain more or less in their control, it does not believe the government should be responsible for protecting such information, the report said. Rather, it would like to see private companies develop solutions for the problems many consumers face for dealing with their personal data, and who has it, online.
"We will ensure that personal data receives full constitutional protection from government overreach and that individuals retain the right to control the use of their data by third parties; the only way to safeguard or improve these systems is through the private sector," the platform said.
However, those who deal with consumer privacy on a daily basis believe that this approach cannot work, and never has in the past, the report said. Privacy experts have long called for a makeover for the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, passed in 1986, to reflect the current climate in data protection.
"We believe that the private sector approach to protect personal data has failed," Amie Stepanovich, an associate litigation counsel at the Electronic Privacy Information Center, an advocacy group, told the site.
Further, the GOP platform leaves significant room for clarification, the report said. Unclear terms and a lack of explanation about what constitutes consumer data could lead to groups on both sides of the argument over online privacy to misunderstand or misinterpret the actual intent of the message.
Eduard Goodman, the chief privacy officer for Identity Theft 911, writes regularly on his blog about the problems consumers face when putting any of their personal information online, and sharing it with other parties.
The latest party platform from Republicans states that it wants to see more support for Internet freedom and increased data protection, and more privacy from aerial drones, according to a report from Ars Technica. But at the same time, it takes a strong stand against the Federal Communications Commission's Net neutrality efforts, essentially calling it unnecessary regulation. Further, it wants the federal government involved in offensive cybersecurity measures, rather than just defensive ones.
And while the GOP has stated that consumers' private data should remain more or less in their control, it does not believe the government should be responsible for protecting such information, the report said. Rather, it would like to see private companies develop solutions for the problems many consumers face for dealing with their personal data, and who has it, online.
"We will ensure that personal data receives full constitutional protection from government overreach and that individuals retain the right to control the use of their data by third parties; the only way to safeguard or improve these systems is through the private sector," the platform said.
However, those who deal with consumer privacy on a daily basis believe that this approach cannot work, and never has in the past, the report said. Privacy experts have long called for a makeover for the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, passed in 1986, to reflect the current climate in data protection.
"We believe that the private sector approach to protect personal data has failed," Amie Stepanovich, an associate litigation counsel at the Electronic Privacy Information Center, an advocacy group, told the site.
Further, the GOP platform leaves significant room for clarification, the report said. Unclear terms and a lack of explanation about what constitutes consumer data could lead to groups on both sides of the argument over online privacy to misunderstand or misinterpret the actual intent of the message.
Eduard Goodman, the chief privacy officer for Identity Theft 911, writes regularly on his blog about the problems consumers face when putting any of their personal information online, and sharing it with other parties.
