Official Daily Action for Wednesday, March 11, 2020
Protect privacy in Washington state by supporting retaining the WA House amendments on two bills: SB 6280 (limits facial surveillance technology) and SB6281 (protects data privacy).
These two bills purport to increase the protection of our data and digital privacy, but they were originally written with many glaring deficiencies. On Friday the House ITED (Innovation, Technology & Economic Development) committee passed both bills, with some amendments that did improve on a few of the weakness. One of the most important was the introduction of a “private right of action” (SB6281). This addresses a problem of “unenforceability” in the original Senate bill. The WA Attorney General’s Office has stated that the house bill would now be enforceable.
As of March 9, both of the bills have crossed back over to the Senate, and in both cases the Senate has refused to accept the amendments. Without these amendments, these bills will fail to provide the necessary protection.
This is unacceptable. Washington needs the strongest possible legislation to protect our data and our privacy and without these amendments, they will be much weaker bills.
Deadline: URGENT – these bills are currently under discussion.
Action 1: Call the legislative hotline and leave a message for YOUR state rep and senator
Washington State Legislative Hotline: 1-800-562-6000 (TTY for Hearing Impaired 800.833. 6388).
They will ask for you address, and take a message for your representatives
Script:
I want to thank the House for passing significantly stronger versions of SB 6280 and SB 6281. I ask the Senate to preserve the improvements in the House and continue to further strengthen the legislation. We need strong regulation that protects our privacy, not window dressing. Please listen to the communities who will be harmed the most by facial recognition, and adopt a moratorium until we know how to regulate it.
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MAINTAIN the amendments made in the House on SB 6281 and FURTHER STRENGTHEN the legislation. The Senate version of SB 6281 is UNACCEPTABLE.
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The AGO’s office and consumers need a meaningful enforcement mechanism (private right of action)
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Local jurisdictions must be able to have the ability to enact stronger local laws on data privacy.
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Facial recognition should not be a part of this data privacy bill. We need a moratorium.
ACTION 2: Contact the House-Senate conference committee
Points to touch on:
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MAINTAIN the amendments made in the House on SB 6281 and FURTHER STRENGTHEN the legislation. The Senate version of SB 6281 is UNACCEPTABLE.
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The AGO’s office and consumers need a meaningful enforcement mechanism (private right of action)
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Local jurisdictions must be able to have the ability to enact stronger local laws on data privacy.
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Facial recognition should not be a part of this data privacy bill. We need a moratorium.
Hudgins, Zack (D)
(360) 786-7956 [email protected]
Hansen, Drew (D)
(360) 786-7842 [email protected]
Dufault, Jeremie (R)
(360) 786-7874 [email protected]Senate:
Carlyle, Reuven (D)
(360) 786-7670 [email protected]
Dhingra, Manka (D)
(360) 786-7672 [email protected]
Rivers, Ann (R)
(360) 786-7634 [email protected]
Action 3: Contact State Senators
Script:
I live in the _____ LD. Please support SB6280 and SB6281 as currently written, preserving the House ITED amendments, and work to further strengthen the bills. We need strong regulation that protects our privacy, not window dressing. The ITED amendments introduce several important improvements, and must be retained if we are to have legislation that is meaningful and effective.
Stanford D / 1 [email protected] 360-786-7600
Hasegawa D / 11 [email protected] 360-786-7616
Salomon D / 32 [email protected] 360-786-7662
Keiser D / 33 [email protected] 360-786-7664
Nguyen D / 34 [email protected] 360-786-7667
Carlyle D / 36 [email protected] 360-786-7670
Saldana D / 37 [email protected] 360-786-7688
Wellman D / 41 [email protected] 360-786-7641
Pedersen D / 43 [email protected] 360-786-7628
Frockt D / 46 [email protected] 360-786-7690
Kuderer D / 48 [email protected] 360-786-7694
