Bill Overview
Title: Promoting Digital Privacy Technologies Act
Description: This bill directs the National Science Foundation to support merit-reviewed and competitively awarded research on privacy enhancing technologies. The Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Program (NITRD) must coordinate with appropriate agencies to accelerate the development, deployment, and adoption of privacy enhancing technologies. The bill also requires NITRD to submit to Congress a report on the progress of research on privacy enhancing technologies and the development of specified voluntary resources.
Sponsors: Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11]
Target Audience
Population: Global internet users and digital technology consumers
Estimated Size: 300000000
- The promotion and development of privacy-enhancing technologies impacts all individuals who use digital platforms.
- Digital privacy technologies aim to protect personal data during online interactions, which are nearly universal in modern societies.
- All internet users, globally, could see their data privacy protected and enhanced by advancements in the technologies supported by this bill.
- The bill is likely to have a significant impact on organizations and industries dealing with sensitive personal data, indirectly affecting all consumers who use such services.
Reasoning
- The policy targets almost the entire population who use digital platforms and technology, indicating a broad impact.
- Given the huge user base, the policy may not hugely affect every individual directly, but institutions and businesses will see notable shifts.
- Small businesses handling sensitive data might experience a boost in consumer trust.
- The budget, though significant, when spread across the huge user base, may primarily impact on larger scales in businesses and tech advancements.
Simulated Interviews
Software Engineer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's great that there's focus on digital privacy.
- Tech companies should innovate in this area so this aligns with that thought.
- I'm curious how this might change our daily development practices.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
College Student (Austin, TX)
Age: 24 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy seems logical for a safer internet.
- I care about privacy but as a student, I don't feel currently at risk.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Marketing Manager (New York, NY)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Privacy has been a growing concern in our sector.
- I hope this policy pushes for meaningful data protection changes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 4 |
Farmer (Rural Utah)
Age: 53 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Digital privacy should be prioritized, especially as technology reaches rural areas.
- I don't tend to notice much impact immediately, but appreciate efforts.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Influencer (Miami, FL)
Age: 28 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Privacy tech advancements can only help with the risks we face online.
- I hope social media channels adopt these technologies quickly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 4 |
Retired (Chicago, IL)
Age: 67 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's good to know efforts are being made to protect our data.
- I'm cautious with tech due to age, hoping this will reduce risks I face.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Barista (Seattle, WA)
Age: 19 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Affecting habits and the technologies we use is vital post-data leaks.
- This bill seems directly beneficial to my online presence security.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 3 |
Elementary School Teacher (Philadelphia, PA)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Enhanced privacy technology is essential for educational data.
- This bill could make remote teaching safer.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Small Business Owner (Dallas, TX)
Age: 46 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Business needs guidance in implementing privacy technologies.
- This bill could foster trust with clientele.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 4 |
Data Analyst (Boston, MA)
Age: 31 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This aligns with my professional focus and benefits personal security.
- Hope it will standardize practices across data-heavy industries.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $100000000 (Low: $80000000, High: $120000000)
Year 2: $120000000 (Low: $90000000, High: $150000000)
Year 3: $140000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $180000000)
Year 5: $160000000 (Low: $120000000, High: $200000000)
Year 10: $200000000 (Low: $150000000, High: $250000000)
Year 100: $500000000 (Low: $400000000, High: $600000000)
Key Considerations
- The global nature of digital privacy means international stakeholders could influence or benefit from the technologies advanced by this bill.
- Competing global initiatives might affect the degree of U.S. leadership and positioning in privacy technologies.
- Long-term success depends on the adaptability and real-world application of the developed technologies by businesses and public entities.