Legislature(2021 - 2022)
2021-03-31 Senate Journal
Full Journal pdf2021-03-31 Senate Journal Page 0598 SB 116 SENATE BILL NO. 116 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled: "An Act establishing the Consumer Data Privacy Act; establishing data broker registration requirements; making a violation of the Consumer Data Privacy Act an unfair or deceptive trade practice; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Labor and Commerce and Finance Committees. The following fiscal information was published today: Fiscal Note No. 1, Department of Law Fiscal Note No. 2, Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development Governor's transmittal letter dated March 30: Dear President Micciche: Under the authority of Article III, Section 18, of the Alaska Constitution, I am transmitting a bill significantly strengthening the privacy of Alaskans’ personal information. The Consumer Data Privacy Act creates a new set of consumer privacy rights to protect personal and sensitive information. The bill provides Alaskans with the right to know when businesses are collecting personal information, what information is being collected, the right to request collected personal information be deleted, and the right to prevent businesses from selling their personal information. In 2018, it was disclosed that Facebook has shared access to users’ data with other tech firms, including Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Netflix, and Spotify. Examples given by the New York Times include 2021-03-31 Senate Journal Page 0599 allowing others’ products the ability to read users’ private messages and to see the names, contact details, and activities of their friends. These revelations follow a series of scandals including the Cambridge Analytica data harvest, evidence of meddling in U.S. affairs, and several data-exposing bugs. Facebook maintained they are not selling user data, but we must challenge that claim and ensure consumers can determine what is done with their personal data. Article I, Section 22, of the Alaska Constitution provides one of the strongest individual rights to privacy in the nation. While technology continues to bring convenience and utility to our lives, those benefits can come at the expense of our personal privacy. The Consumer Data Privacy Act will help ensure Alaskans determine how their personal data is used in today’s marketplace. The bill generally applies to businesses with gross revenues of $25,000,000 or more, those that bought or disclosed personal information of 100,000 or more persons or households, or that sold the personal information of a consumer, household, or device in the last year. The bill prevents businesses from disclosing the personal information of minors under the age of 13 to a third party and from disclosing or selling the personal information of a minor older than 13 without the consent of a parent or guardian. In addition, the bill requires data brokers to register with the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development and to provide consumers a clear online link by which they can exercise their rights under this act. I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure. Sincerely, /s/ Mike Dunleavy Governor