Protecting from Doxing and Violence

Summary#

This bill would let Members of Congress, their immediate family, designated congressional staff, and former Members mark certain personal data as private. "Covered information" includes home addresses, phone numbers, personal email addresses, Social Security or driver’s license numbers, bank and card numbers, vehicle identifiers (like license plates), the identity of a child under 18, school or daycare names and schedules, travel routes to work or school, and precise (non-anonymized) device geolocation.

Federal agencies would have to stop publicly posting that covered information and must remove it from public-facing records within 72 hours after an at-risk person asks. The bill allows at-risk people to file notices themselves or have legislative officers act for them and to provide lists of people to agencies and businesses.

The bill makes it unlawful for data brokers to knowingly sell, license, trade for money, or buy covered information about U.S. persons or people located in the United States. Other businesses and websites generally must remove covered information from the internet within 72 hours after a written request and must not transfer it to others, with exceptions for news reporting, information the at-risk person publishes after enactment, or information lawfully received from the Federal Government. The Attorney General or a State attorney general may sue to enforce the data broker prohibition. An at-risk individual may also sue for injunctive or declaratory relief if their covered information is made public in violation of the bill.

The bill includes exceptions to protect reporting on matters of public concern and information required by law. It also says the rules should be broadly read to favor protecting covered information and contains a severability clause.

What it means for you#

• If you are a Member of Congress, a designated congressional staffer, a former Member, or an immediate family member, you can ask agencies, data brokers, and many websites to remove or stop sharing certain personal information. Agencies and covered businesses must act within 72 hours in most cases.
• Data brokers who knowingly sell or buy this kind of covered information about U.S. persons would be prohibited from doing so and could face enforcement action by the Department of Justice or a State attorney general.
• News organizations and content about matters of public concern are generally exempt, as are items the at-risk individual publishes themselves or information required by law.
• You may authorize a legislative officer or agent to make requests on your behalf, and legislative officers may submit lists to simplify compliance.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

The bill’s text and title state it is intended "to improve the safety and security of Members of Congress, immediate family members of Members of Congress, and congressional staff." Proponents, as reflected in the bill language, view the measures as tools to prevent public posting or commercial sale of detailed personal information that could enable doxing or targeted threats.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.