Published: May 2018

If companies can protect user data in Europe, they can protect it everywhere

Consumer Action joined 27 groups in calling on some of the world’s largest companies – including Facebook, Google and Amazon, as well as digital advertisers like Nestle, Walmart and JPMorgan Chase – to use Europe’s impending General Data Protection Regulation regime as a baseline standard worldwide for all of their services, including in the U.S.

The deadline for General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) to go into effect in the European Union was May 25. GDPR places limits on the gathering and use of personal data and establishes clear responsibilities for companies that collect it, as well as clear rights for people whose data is gathered. It aims to give individuals control over their data.

The GDPR provides a baseline standard for strong data privacy. Advocates can see no reason why U.S. companies, as they strive to comply with the new European policies, cannot extend the GDPR standard to American consumers. Strong privacy standards should apply to everyone who uses online platforms and services no matter where they live. The digital economy should safeguard individual privacy, advance fairness and provides equal opportunity for all. The unfettered collection and use of personal data threatens this future.

Lead Organization

Public Citizen

Other Organizations

Access Now | Berkeley Media Studies Group | California Center for Rural Policy | Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood | Center for Digital Democracy | Color of Change | Constitutional Alliance | Consumer Action | Consumer Assistance Council, Inc. | Consumer Federation of America | Consumer Watchdog | Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) | Essential Information | Future Wise | Government Accountability Project | Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy | Media Alliance | National Association of Consumer Advocates | National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low-income clients) | Oakland Privacy | Privacy International | Privacy Rights Clearinghouse | Public Citizen | Trade Justice Alliance | U.S. PIRG | World Wide Web Foundation | X-Lab | Yale Privacy Lab

More Information

For more information, please visit Public Citizen's website.

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