HELENA, Mont. (NMB) – Representative Daniel Zolnikov says people have a right to be asked if Internet service providers can use their personal data.
Zolnikov, who’s from Billings, is sponsoring House Bill 457, which forces Internet providers to have explicit consent from customers before the use their personal browsing data. He says people have a choice of where they go online, but, especially in rural areas, there’s not much choice on how they get access.
Tim Pierce with the UM Legislative News Service reports, Zolnikov also says providers will still be able to use data to create profiles based on their browsing history to make targeted ads.
“And the argument is, ‘Well, this can really help consumers.’ I say that’s fine. Just ask for my permission.”
CEO of the Montana Chamber of Commerce Cary Hegreberg opposed the bill during its public hearing Friday. He agrees that Internet privacy laws need to be updated, but it should be a unified solution.
“This is a federal issue. It should be solved at the federal level. Individual states trying to pass a patchwork of laws to address a problem that is not only national, but international in scope could create a lot of problems.”
The House Judiciary Committee did not immediately take action on the bill.
