As a gridlocked Congress stalls on passing comprehensive data privacy laws in the United States, many think that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) should act to reel in tech companies. Privacy is paramount here at FlashRouters, so we are keeping tabs on the possibility of a US Privacy Bureau as the story plays out in real time.
The Need For Data Privacy
As more and more of our lives become entrenched online, more of our personal information lives there. With the pandemic forcing so many to resort to working from home, it seems the last bastion of personal privacy is gone, lost to the cloud.
Social Media giants such as Facebook, Twitter, and Google collect untold amounts of user data, as well as any other organization you interact with. Your ISP? They take your data. The supermarket? They track your data. Random other websites you visit? They all track your data! All of these companies use your personal information at a benefit to them, in order to advertise to you, sell your data to someone else, or other nefarious uses.
As we hear month after month of security breaches at major companies from Capital One to Equifax to Twitch, people have almost become accustomed to having their data leaked and made publicly available. But it doesn’t have to be this way. One proposal for tackling data leaks that’s gaining attention is the creation of a US Privacy Bureau.
Is a US Privacy Bureau on the Way?
For years, Congress has attempted to pass privacy laws aimed at huge companies collecting user data to keep them in check. President Joe Biden signed an executive order in July 2021 urging the FTC to “establish rules on surveillance and the accumulation of data,” but Republicans in Congress fear both governmental overreach and overspending. This has led most recently to calls for the FTC to act under their current regulatory authority and come up with rules to keep companies in line with the way they handle user information.
In September 2021, a congressional panel agreed to include $1 billion in funding to the FTC in their proposed $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation package, but that’s presumably dead on arrival. Senate Republicans and Democratic moderates Joe Manchin (D-WV) & Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) do not seem to be willing to let the reconciliation bill pass, effectively ending the current push for funding a new US Privacy Bureau at the FTC. However, as the vote has not happened yet, theoretically anything can happen!
What is in the Future For Major Privacy Reform in Government?
Many Washington insiders hope that the FTC can enact some sort of regulations that could end up forcing the hand of State legislatures or Congress themselves to come together and pass bipartisan legislation to secure consumer data. But as seen on September 29, 2021, during a Senate Committee hearing on Protecting Consumer Privacy, Republicans continue to stall such efforts.
On FTC privacy rulemaking, Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) rejected attempts by the FTC to even seek rulemaking power. Meanwhile, Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) expressed skepticism on giving the FTC money, stating that she thought it would be a waste of taxpayer dollars.
How Can I Protect My Online Data In The Meantime?
While the future of a US Privacy Bureau is up in the air, one way to secure your online privacy and information is right at home! You can stop your ISP from spying and tracking your private data with a few easy steps!
If you use a virtual private network (VPN), all of your internet traffic will be encrypted and basically unreadable by your ISP! Stop your internet provider from collecting and selling your data for their own profit! Protect your data today with one of our favorite VPNs:
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Best Routers While Fate of a US Privacy Bureau Is Decided
And if you’re looking for the easiest way to set your VPN up, our fully-featured routers come with open-source DD-WRT firmware that allows you to get VPN coverage on all of your devices just by connecting to your network! Instead of having to manually configure a VPN on every phone, computer, and SmartTV in your house, set it and forget it on your router one time! On top of that, using a FlashRouter will allow you to bypass any VPN provider device limits so you can use every device you have!
AX3000 WiFi 6 VPN FlashRouter
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Asus RT-AX88U PRO Merlin FlashRouter
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NordLynx WiFi 6 Router – Privacy Hero
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We will continue to update as developments about a US Privacy Bureau come out! Feel free to contact us if you have any questions about Data Privacy Laws in the United States, the FTC Privacy Bureau, or any other online privacy issues!
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