Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday announced additional legislation to rein in big tech’s power and give Floridians more control of their personal data.
“Under our proposal, companies that want to collect and sell your personal information are going to be required to tell you how they plan to use your personal information in detail,” DeSantis said during a press conference in Tallahassee.
“Further, we’re going to make sure that they tell you exactly what they are collecting and recognize that a consumer has a right to decide how their personal information is used. Many of these same companies and online platforms won’t give you the ability to, “opt-out” of the collection and sale of your personal information.”
The legislation will also empower “both the attorney general to bring actions against big tech companies for violating these consumer protections as well as individuals to bring a cause of action against a technology company for failing to adhere to Florida’s rules on the protection of your data,” said DeSantis.
The proposal builds on legislation pitched earlier this month by DeSantis to “check the growing power and influence of big-tech and to safeguard the privacy and security of consumer data.”
His “Transparency in Technology” draft legislation introduced on Feb. 4 would fine social media companies $100,000 if they de-platform a political candidate and would allow users to sue a social media company if they have been treated unfairly. Additionally, it would give Florida’s Attorney General the power to bring anti-monopoly cases against tech companies.
DeSantis on Monday said big tech platforms have created a “surveillance economy which enriches those platforms by free-riding on consumer data.”
“We will change that by requiring that every Floridian be afforded an option to opt out of that practice without discrimination or retaliation from the company,” he said Monday.
“In Florida, we’re going to make sure the consumer is in the driver seat to make that decision, not Silicon Valley or global companies who are far more focused on profits.
The legislation expands the Florida Information Protection Act to include biometric data, such as fingerprints, voice recordings, retina scans and more.
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