President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address briefly touched upon consumer data privacy issues and even brief mentions of a given policy concern raise interest in DC.
Biden said in his remarks on March 1, 2022, “we must hold social media platforms accountable for the national experiment they’re conducting on our children for profit. It’s time to strengthen privacy protections; ban targeted advertising to children; demand tech companies stop collecting personal data on our children.”
Deep in a related fact sheet, the White House provided some more detail for its focus on children’s privacy and stopping “discriminatory algorithmic decision-making that limits opportunities for young Americans.”
Privacy for America, the organization we helped to found to advocate for a comprehensive federal privacy law, responded to Biden’s speech by noting the “significant areas of agreement in proposals advanced by members of both parties on the core principles to extend privacy protections for all Americans, including children, while preserving the many benefits that accompany responsible data use.”
Referencing the recent study of consumer attitudes on privacy conducted by IA members Research Narrative and Innovate MR, Privacy for America looked ahead “to working with the Administration and lawmakers of both parties to make a comprehensive privacy law a reality in the United States.”
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.