Tech backs federal data privacy rules

Major technology companies and internet service providers told a US Senate panel on Wednesday they support federal legislation to protect data privacy but want Congress to pre-empt tough new rules adopted by California.

Amazon, Alphabet, Apple, AT&T, Charter Communications and Twitter all told the Senate Commerce Committee they would back new federal privacy regulations.

Companies support giving users control over their data, transparency over how data is used and the ability to move their data. The data includes Web browsing history as well as other consumer data.

Sen. John Thune (R-SD), who chairs the Commerce Committee, said he is working on legislation but acknowledged it is not likely to win approval this year. The industry “wants a national approach, not a 50-state approach, and I think that provides us with some leverage and I think it also suggests they are going to have to be at the table and offering up good solutions for this,” he said.

Thune expects hearings later this year and wants to hear from consumer groups.

Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) noted that tech companies are wor- ried about the impact of state laws but will need to support robust federal privacy rules.

In June, California Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation aimed at giving consumers more control over how companies collect and manage their personal information, which Alphabet’s Google and other big companies had opposed as too burdensome. The rules take effect in 2020.