Bill Overview
Title: DELETE Act
Description: This bill establishes a process for the deletion of personal information held by data brokers (i.e., entities that collect or obtain personal information for commercial purposes from individuals with whom they do not have a direct relationship). First, it requires the Federal Trade Commission to issue rules requiring data brokers to (1) register with the commission, (2) provide specified contact information, and (3) disclose certain data collection practices. Second, the commission must establish a centralized system to allow individuals to make a single request for the deletion of any of their personal information held by a data broker (or an affiliated legal entity). Each data broker must delete the personal information not later than 31 days after a request is made. An individual who submits a deletion request also must be added to a do-not-track list and registered data brokers are prohibited from collecting personal information about that individual. The bill provides for enforcement of these requirements by the commission.
Sponsors: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals whose personal information is collected by data brokers
Estimated Size: 300000000
- Data brokers operate globally and collect information from billions of people worldwide.
- The bill has implications for anyone whose data might be collected and stored by a data broker for commercial purposes.
- This includes individuals from all walks of life as long as they have interacted with digital platforms or services that sell user data to data brokers.
- The aim is to give individuals more control over their personal information and limit third-party tracking.
Reasoning
- The policy aims to address privacy concerns and afford individuals more control over their personal data, likely impacting individuals differently based on their internet usage and awareness of data privacy issues.
- Many internet users in the US interact with digital platforms which may sell their data, making them potential beneficiaries of this policy.
- Data privacy is a growing concern, particularly among tech-savvy individuals and those who have been victims of data misuse.
- The policy's impact will vary, with tech industry professionals potentially understanding and utilizing the system more than less informed demographics.
- Some people may not perceive immediate benefits or changes to their wellbeing as the perceived risk of data misuse varies across individuals.
- Implementation costs of the policy might be on the higher side initially, but creating a centralized system for data deletion requests is necessary for a streamlined approach.
Simulated Interviews
Software Developer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I am very supportive of this bill. Data privacy is crucial, and having the ability to manage my data is empowering.
- The tech industry collects data in insidious ways. This bill is a necessary step towards transparency and privacy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 8 |
Marketing Manager (New York, NY)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While I see the benefits of personal data control, from a business perspective, this makes targeted marketing harder.
- I recognize the importance of data privacy personally, but professionally this could complicate my job.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Retired Teacher (Des Moines, IA)
Age: 63 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's beneficial to have such protections in place, though I don't use online services often.
- I support measures that protect future generations from data exploitation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
College Student (Austin, TX)
Age: 19 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The DELETE Act sounds great! I've always worried about how my data on social media could be used without my consent.
- This gives me reassurance that I can control who gets to know about me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 7 |
Data Analyst (Portland, OR)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's a double-edged sword. Professionally it complicates analytics, but personally, I'm relieved about having control over my personal data.
- The industry will have to adapt, but this is a step in the right direction for personal data rights.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Small Business Owner (Seattle, WA)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As a small business owner, I'm concerned this will increase my operating costs and complexity.
- I understand the merit, but without guidance, this could harm small businesses.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
IT Security Specialist (Chicago, IL)
Age: 31 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is a victory for data security. We need more regulations to protect personal information.
- I'm glad we're making strides for privacy in the digital age.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 8 |
HR Manager (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having been a victim of a data breach, this law gives me hope that I can regain some control over who holds my data.
- I support this wholeheartedly as a protective measure against data misuse.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 4 |
Freelance Writer (Miami, FL)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I support the premise but am skeptical about the implementation and whether it will truly stop data brokers.
- It seems like a positive move, but I need to see it in action to fully believe in its effectiveness.
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 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Graduate Student (Boston, MA)
Age: 22 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This initiative supports my academic and personal beliefs about the importance of data privacy.
- It's a necessary move toward better privacy laws, and I'm excited about its implementation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $300000000 (Low: $250000000, High: $350000000)
Year 2: $200000000 (Low: $150000000, High: $250000000)
Year 3: $150000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $200000000)
Year 5: $150000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $200000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The upfront establishment and maintenance costs of a centralized deletion request system.
- The need for an extensive public awareness campaign to ensure individuals know about and use the system.
- Potential pushbacks or legal challenges from data brokers regarding compliance and operational adjustments.
- Monitoring and enforcement of compliance through the Federal Trade Commission, requiring additional resources.