The Five P’s: What Congress Gets Right on Data Protection but Needs Structure to Successfully Enable Privacy The House Energy & Commerce Committee’s Privacy Working Group has introduced a significant development in Washington by proposing the Secure Data Act, a privacy bill that marks a departure from the fragmented state of data protection laws. Unveiled on April 22, the legislation aims to establish a federal framework that would replace the patchwork of state privacy regulations, which have long complicated compliance for businesses and consumers. The Act includes provisions for consumer rights, data minimization, broker registration, and expanded Federal Trade Commission enforcement authority. While many aspects of the bill are seen as sensible, experts argue that it still lacks critical structural elements to fully address the systemic risks posed by data breaches. The core issue, according to the article, lies not just in the excessive collection of data but in the careless handling of it. Companies often gather vast amounts of information, store it without adequate safeguards, and are caught off guard when breaches occur. To address this, the author outlines five foundational principles—referred to as the Five P’s of Privacy—that could serve as a roadmap for improving data security. These principles are framed as essential components of a comprehensive approach to privacy, emphasizing both accountability and proactive measures. The first principle, Providence, focuses on transparency and accountability by requiring organizations to track the origin of their data and who has accessed it. While the Secure Data Act mandates disclosure of data categories and sharing practices, the article highlights a gap in origin-tracking.#data_breach #federal_trade_commission #house_energy_commerce_committee #secure_data_act #five_p_s
