Walden leads hearing on consumer digital protection

Continuing his efforts to strengthen consumer protection in the digital age, Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., led a hearing Wednesday at the House Energy and Commerce Committee to examine the personal data collection and online content management practices of technology companies.

Walden, who chairs the Energy and Commerce Committee, stressed the need for consumer protection online to ensure sensitive personal information is safe, and that consumers maintain control and choice over the content they see online.

“The goal for today’s hearing is to help provide all Americans with a better understanding of how their data flows online, how online platforms and online media sources determine what they see or don’t see, and the extent of and methods by which their information is collected and used by online firms,” Walden said.

“Americans should be able to feel confident that their well-being, freedom of expression, and access to the content of their choice are not being wholly sacrificed for profit. Americans should have vibrant, competitive markets both offline and online, where consumers know their rights and options, and have the freedom to choose what is best for their circumstances.”

Specifically, the Energy and Commerce Committee examined how companies’ algorithms, and decisions about personal data and online content, are impacting consumers. This hearing comes as the Committee is continuing to investigate the massive Equifax data breach, which compromised the personal information of over 145 million Americans, including over 1.7 million Oregonians.

During Wednesday’s hearing, Walden said that as the internet economy continues to grow substantially, consumer safety and choice must remain a top priority.

“Consumers should remain as safe from unfair, deceptive, and malicious practices by online firms and their algorithms on the internet as they do in the real world,” said Walden.

For more information on Wednesday’s hearing, including a background memo, witness testimony, and full webcast, please click HERE.