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S. 1116 · 116th Congress

BROWSER Act of 2019

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IntroducedPassed one chamberPassed both chambersBecame law (gold)Resolution agreed to (full, dark)Failed or vetoed (gray)

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Never voted on. It didn't reach a floor vote before the 116th Congress ended, so it expired. A bill has to be introduced again to be considered in a new Congress.

2 cosponsors · 1 D, 1 R

0 signed on when it was introduced; the rest joined later. Cosponsors who withdrew aren't shown.

Balancing the Rights Of Web Surfers Equally and Responsibly Act of 2019 or the BROWSER Act of 2019

What it does: CRS summary · Introduced in Senate · Apr 10, 2019

Balancing the Rights Of Web Surfers Equally and Responsibly Act of 2019 or the BROWSER Act of 2019

This bill establishes information privacy protections that require broadband internet access services and certain websites or mobile applications to provide users with the ability to opt-in or opt-out of the using, disclosing, or accessing of their user information depending on the sensitivity of the information.

Covered service providers must provide opt-in approval through express user consent to use sensitive information such as financial data, health information, browsing history, or other specified personally identifiable information. Such service providers must obtain opt-out approval for the use of non-sensitive user information by a user failing to object to such use after being provided notice of the provider's privacy policies. Service providers also must allow users to opt-in or opt-out of such approval at any time.

The bill permits service providers to use and disclose user information without approval for specified purposes, including for services necessary for provision of the service and to initiate, render, bill, and collect for the service.

The bill further prohibits providers from conditioning access to service on users' agreeing to waive their privacy rights.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov

About this bill and sources

Official title: BROWSER Act of 2019

Also known as: Balancing the Rights Of Web Surfers Equally and Responsibly Act of 2019

Latest action (Apr 10, 2019): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Policy area: Commerce · Origin: Senate · Introduced: Apr 10, 2019

Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)

No recorded floor vote found.