Exploring Options: Overcoming Barriers to Comprehensive Federal Privacy Legislation

Most experts agree that the current patchwork of US privacy laws does not adequately protect individuals and offers little predictability for business. However, specific proposals for a comprehensive federal law have failed to gain broad enough support in Congress. Two of the most difficult issues have been the extent to which the federal law should preempt state law and whether a private right of action should be provided in the law for individuals to file lawsuits for privacy violations. This event will focus on those issues and demonstrate that there are many options that could provide paths forward to gain consensus. The event will include key note remarks from US Federal Trade Commissioner Christine Wilson and two panels featuring many of the top experts on the issues. This event is part of the Robert R. Wilson Distinguished Lecture Series.