Coalition of leading organizations across industries relaunches with eight new members, letter to Congress, and Capitol Hill event

Washington, D.C. – TechNet, the national, bipartisan network of innovation economy CEOs and senior executives, was joined today by 27 partners from across industries to relaunch the #UnitedForPrivacy campaign for the 118th Congress. #UnitedForPrivacy is a TechNet-led initiative that brings together a unified, cross-industry voice underscoring the urgent need to pass a federal data privacy law this Congress. The campaign has added eight new members since it first launched in January 2022.

The United for Privacy campaign was relaunched with a letter to Congress highlighting the urgent need for a federal data privacy law, and will continue with a July 12 event on Capitol Hill that brings together lawmakers and business leaders, including small businesses, to discuss the importance of passing a national data privacy standard and opportunities for enactment this Congress.

The relaunch of the United for Privacy coalition comes as the patchwork of state privacy laws continues to grow. Eight states have passed a data privacy law this year: Delaware*, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Montana, Oregon*, Tennessee, and Texas. California, Colorado, Connecticut, Utah, and Virginia previously enacted privacy laws. Since 2018, 182 comprehensive privacy bills have been considered across 46 states.

This patchwork is confusing consumers and having a chilling effect on our economy.  According to a study by the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation (ITIF) last year, failing to pass a federal data privacy law will cost our economy more than $1 trillion over ten years, with $200 billion being paid by small businesses.

“With all Americans being forced to navigate 13 separate state privacy laws, the need for a federal solution has never been greater. The growing patchwork of state privacy laws is confusing consumers and having a chilling effect on our economy, especially for small businesses that are struggling to keep up with an ever-changing compliance landscape. The average privacy spend of small businesses was $2 million last year, nearly double from 2020, and it’s only going to get worse until Congress acts,” said TechNet President and CEO Linda Moore. “Across our economy, we are united in urging the passage of one federal data privacy law that ensures all Americans have the right to access, correct, and delete their data no matter where they live, mitigates abusive lawsuits against small businesses, and provides companies certainty about their responsibilities so they can spend their resources on creating jobs rather than paying legal bills.”

A federal data privacy law is overwhelmingly popular with American voters and has broad bipartisan support. Polls show 83% of all voters, including 86% of Democrats and 81% of Republicans, support the passage of a federal data privacy law. Congress made great progress last year and now is the time to seize that momentum and pass a federal data privacy bill that works for all Americans.

Last year’s #UnitedForPrivacy campaign began with a letter to Congress signed by over 80 local Chambers of Commerce and was followed by online campaigns, local Op-Eds, webinars, and direct advocacy to lawmakers that provided information on the economic dangers of growing the privacy patchwork and how a federal standard would propel American economic growth and innovation.

In addition to TechNet, the #UnitedForPrivacy coalition includes ACT | The App Association, the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, the American Escrow Association, the American Financial Services Association, the Association of National Advertisers, BSA | The Software Alliance, the Business Roundtable, the California Life Sciences Association, Chamber of Progress, the Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA), the Consumer Technology Association, the Developers Alliance, the Electronic Transactions Association, Engine, the Entertainment Software Association, the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI), the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), the Marketplace Industry Association, the National Apartment Association, the National Business Coalition on E-Commerce and Privacy, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, the National Multifamily Housing Council, NetChoice, the Security Industry Association, the Software and Information Industry Association, TECNA, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Go to endtheprivacypatchwork.com for more information.

*Awaiting signature of Governor