Statement On Illinois “Right to Know” Act (HB 2774) And Geolocation Privacy Protection Act (HB 3449)

Internet Association Vice President of State Government Affairs Dustin Brighton released the following statement on Illinois “Right to Know” Act (HB 2774) and Geolocation Privacy Protection Act (HB 3449):

“The internet industry calls on Governor Rauner to veto the Illinois “Right to Know” Act (HB 2774) and Geolocation Privacy Protection Act (HB 3449). These pieces of legislation impose unfair burdens on any company that wants to engage in business online in Illinois and will harm growth and jobs in the Prairie State.

“HB 2774 would require any company who wants to do business online in Illinois to create enormous databases of personal information about their website’s visitors – connected to real names – that they wouldn’t otherwise have created. Not only would this dramatically raise the costs of online commerce in every form, but it would also create serious privacy and data security risks for citizens of Illinois.

“HB 3449 would create costly, duplicative disclosure and consent requirements for any website and individual (with a few arbitrary exceptions) that want to use location data of Illinois residents for any purposes – even something as innocuous as a navigation app.

“These two bills do not enhance consumer protections. Instead, they make it more difficult for any company to do business in Illinois and create onerous requirements that will stymie job creation and economic growth in the state.”

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