PogoWasRight.com has done a wonderful thing and compiled a list of privacy bills in Congress right now. Below is a shortened list of the most crucial ones. For a full list, click here.
The bills are designated H.R. (house bills), S (senate bills), and H.J.Res or S.J.Res (joint bills).
A bill to provide for the non-discretionary Supreme Court review of certain civil actions relating to the legality and constitutionality of surveillance activities. [S.877]
Expressing grave concerns about the sweeping censorship, privacy, and cybersecurity implications of China’s Green Dam filtering software, and urging U.S. high-tech companies to promote the Internet as a tool for transparency, freedom of expression, and citizen empowerment around the world. [H. Res.590]
Aircraft Passenger Whole-Body Imaging Limitations Act of 2009. To amend title 49, United States Code, to establish limitations on the use of whole-body imaging technology for aircraft passenger screening, and for other purposes. [H. R.2027]
Cyber Privacy Act. To require certain Internet websites that contain personal information of individual’s to remove such information at the request of such individuals. [H.R.5108]
Data Accountability and Trust Act. A bill to protect consumers by requiring reasonable security policies and procedures to protect computerized data containing personal information, and to provide for nationwide notice in the event of a security breach. [H. R.2221]
Global Online Freedom Act of 2009 . To prevent United States businesses from cooperating with repressive governments in transforming the Internet into a tool of censorship and surveillance, to fulfill the responsibility of the United States Government to promote freedom of expression on the Internet, to restore public confidence in the integrity of United States businesses. [H. R.2271] (Vague, but sounds good.)
Identity Theft Prevention Act of 2009. To amend title II of the Social Security Act and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to protect the integrity and confidentiality of Social Security account numbers issued under such title, to prohibit the establishment in the Federal Government of any uniform national identifying number, and to prohibit Federal agencies from imposing standards for identification of individuals on other agencies or persons. [H. R.220]
Informed P2P User Act . A bill to prevent the inadvertent disclosure of information on a computer through the use of certain “peer-to-peer” file sharing software without first providing notice and obtaining consent from the owner or authorized user of the computer. [H. R.1319]
JUSTICE Act. A bill to place reasonable safeguards on the use of surveillance and other authorities under the USA PATRIOT Act, and for other purposes. [S. 1686][H.R.4005]
Notify Americans Before Outsourcing Personal Information Act: A bill to prohibit the transfer of personal information to any person or business outside the United States, without notice.. [H. R.427]
Personal Data Privacy and Security Act of 2009. A bill to prevent and mitigate identity theft, to ensure privacy, to provide notice of security breaches, and to enhance criminal penalties, law enforcement assistance, and other protections against security breaches, fraudulent access, and misuse of personally identifiable information. [S. 1490]
Protect Patients and Physicians Privacy Act. To protect the privacy of patients and physicians . [H.R. 2630]
Protecting the Privacy of Social Security Numbers Act of 2009. To amend title 18, United States Code, and the Social Security Act to limit the misuse of Social Security numbers, to establish criminal penalties for such misuse, and for other purposes. [H.R. 122][S.141]
Providing for Additional Security in States’ Identification Act of 2009 (PASS ID). A bill to repeal title II of the REAL ID Act of 2005 and amend title II of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to better protect the security, confidentiality, and integrity of personally identifiable information collected by States when issuing driver’s licenses and identification documents, and for other purposes. [S. 1261]
Safeguarding Social Security Numbers Act of 2009.A bill to require the Commissioner of Social Security to issue uniform standards for the method of truncation of Social Security account numbers in order to protect such numbers from being used in the perpetration of fraud or identity theft and to provide for a prohibition on the display to the general public on the Internet of Social Security account numbers by State and local governments, and for other purposes. [ S. 1618].
Secure Federal File Sharing Act. To require the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to issue guidance on the use of peer-to-peer file sharing software to prohibit the personal use of such software by Government employees, and for other purposes. [H.R.4098]
