U.S. Chamber Backs SECURE Data Act as Single Standard

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is pressing the Senate Commerce Committee to pass comprehensive federal privacy legislation — anchored by the SECURE Data Act — rather than a patchwork of child-safety bills it warns could expose platforms to inconsistent enforcement and private litigation.

In a letter addressed to Chairman Ted Cruz and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell ahead of the committee's markup, Jordan Crenshaw, Senior Vice President of the Chamber Technology Engagement Center, said the Chamber "shares the Committee's goal of promoting a safer online environment for young people while preserving access to the innovative tools, services, and information that benefit families, consumers, and businesses."

The letter lays out a clear hierarchy of preferences. At the top sits one national privacy standard. The SECURE Data Act, Crenshaw wrote, "would provide meaningful privacy protections for children, teens, and all Americans, including rights to delete and correct personal information, opt out of certain targeted advertising, and receive protections related to certain automated decision-making."

A national framework carries a second benefit for the business community: certainty. Companies could "comply consistently and invest in responsible data practices" under a single set of rules, according to the letter.

Five Conditions for Child-Safety Bills

The Chamber did not reject child- and teen-specific legislation outright. Instead, it asked committee members to advance policies that are "targeted, clear, legally durable, and workable" — and it attached specific conditions.

First, legislative efforts should shield minors from "obscene and harmful content." Second, knowledge standards for covered content must be "clear and appropriately scoped to avoid unintended effects on protected and lawful content." Third, obligations on providers of content and online services should be "objective and clear, allowing businesses to understand their responsibilities and regulators to enforce the law consistently."

The fourth condition targets litigation risk directly. Enforcement, the Chamber argued, should remain with "expert public agencies, including the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general, rather than relying on private lawsuits that can create inconsistent outcomes and divert resources from compliance and consumer protection." The letter added that "unclear standards and duties for content providers and platforms also encourage litigation in state and federal courts."

Fifth, any online privacy or content legislation should establish "a single national standard and not allow for a patchwork of legislation that disincentivizes small business from adopting technology."

The Balancing Act

Crenshaw framed the Chamber's position as a balance. "Children and teens deserve meaningful online protections, and parents need tools to help address harms that can occur online," he wrote. But legislation, he cautioned, "should preserve the benefits of emerging technology, provide clear rules of the road, and avoid unintended consequences for lawful content, responsible businesses, and consumers."

The letter closes with an offer of cooperation. The Chamber, Crenshaw wrote, "stands ready to work with you to advance legislation that protects young people, promotes trust, and provides a workable national framework for businesses of all sizes." Questions, the letter notes, can go to [email protected].

The markup before the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation will test whether lawmakers can reconcile pressure for aggressive child-safety mandates with industry demands for a unified federal standard — an outcome that will shape compliance costs and litigation exposure for platforms of every size.