Rep. Johnson releases privacy provision of AppRights legislation project

Provision One: Protecting Mobile Privacy through User Control 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Georgia Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) today released the first provision of the AppRights.us bill that relates to privacy, transparency, security, and control principles.

AppRights.us is a web-based legislative project launched in July 2012 that opened a public conversation about how Congress can help ensure the privacy and security of mobile device users.

Amidst the growing clamor for federal action to safeguard consumers’ privacy and security, Congressman Johnson is using the feedback to solicit ideas from the public and keep Americans in the loop as he explores how federal law could better protect app users’ rights.

“Because the majority of the feedback that we received on AppRights expressed strong support for user control, we will begin drafting it with this in mind,” said Johnson.

“Many of you also told us that simple controls are important to protecting your privacy on mobile devices.  After listening to these concerns, we have written a user-control provision to address these concerns without threatening the functionality or integrity of the mobile apps that you love.”

The privacy provision requires developers to allow users to delete a mobile application at any time, along with users’ other personal data stored by the application.  Developers must cease to collect or use data within a reasonable period of time after the user has deleted the application.
 
For more on the project or to join the online mobile privacy discussion: visit http://www.AppRights.us and to interact via Twitter (@AppRightsUS) and Facebook.

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