Despite the Evergreen State legislature's efforts, complicated consumer privacy legislation, minors privacy provisions, and data broker restrictions all faltered, dying at the end of Washington's 2020 legislative session.
- The 2020 versions of the Washington Privacy Act (H.B. 2742 and S.B. 6281), comprehensive privacy legislation somewhat modeled on the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), failed to pass. The biggest dispute from 2019, how to handle facial recognition, was ironed out to activist satisfaction in 2020. However, the Act couldn't overcome disputes between the state House and Senate over provisions most important to activists, especially enforcement via a private right of action (which the House demanded). Overall, the Washington Privacy Act fails to embrace much of the new model for privacy regulation put forward by the Insights Association with Privacy for America, but more importantly, it would add to the cascade of state fractures in what should obviously be a federal regulatory issue.
- The Washington State Charter of Personal Data Rights (H.B. 2364), high-level legislation similar to the Washington Privacy Act that would have been enforced by private lawsuits, never picked up any momentum.
- Washington H.B. 2442, legislation that would grant Washington state residents under the age of 18 a right to have their posted content deleted, in addition to a variety of restrictions on marketing activities with minors, passed the House, but faltered in Senate committee.
- Washington H.B. 1503, legislation modeled on the recent California data broker registry law, similarly ran out of steam in Senate committee.
The Insights Association appreciates Washington state's hesitation on all these bills and will work towards improving all of them should they reemerge in the 2021 legislative session.
About the Author
Based in Washington, DC, Howard is the Insights Association's lobbyist for the marketing research and data analytics industry, focusing primarily on consumer privacy and data security, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), tort reform, and the funding and integrity of the decennial Census and the American Community Survey (ACS).
Howard has more than two decades of public policy experience. Before the Insights Association, he worked in Congress as senior legislative staffer for then-Representatives Christopher Cox (CA-48) and Cliff Stearns (FL-06). He also served more than four years with a science policy think tank, working to improve the understanding of scientific and social research and methodology among journalists and policymakers.
Howard is also co-director of The Census Project, a 900+ member coalition in support of a fair and accurate Census and ACS.
He has also served previously on the Board of Directors for the National Institute for Lobbying and Ethics and and the Association of Government Relations Professionals.
Howard has an MA International Relations from the University of Essex in England and a BA Honors Political Studies from Trent University in Canada, and has obtained the Certified Association Executive (CAE), Professional Lobbying Certificate (PLC) and the Public Policy Certificate (PPC).
When not running advocacy for the Insights Association, Howard enjoys hockey, NFL football, sci-fi and horror movies, playing with his dog, and spending time with family and friends.