Bellows introduces bipartisan bill to protect internet consumers’ privacy

AUGUSTA — Legislation introduced by Sen. Shenna Bellows, D-Manchester, would protect the private data of internet service provider customers. LD 946, “An Act To Protect the Privacy of Online Customer Information,” was the subject of a public hearing before the Legislature’s Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology on Wednesday.

“Internet service providers should not be able to sell or share everything that they know about you — including your most private and sensitive personal information — without your consent,” said Sen. Bellows. “While people commonly understand that what they post as ‘public’ on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram might be seen by the whole world, it’s a common belief that other things you do online — whether it’s researching a medical condition, paying your bills or communicating one to one with loved ones — are private. Unfortunately, without LD 946, nothing is private online.”

LD 946 would require internet service providers to obtain the consent of a consumer before selling, sharing or giving away that consumer’s sensitive personal data or information. The bill also ensures that internet service providers, or ISPs, can not coerce consumers into accepting the sharing of their sensitive data as terms for using an internet service provider.

“For Maine’s ISPs, the value of the law would far outweigh the regulatory cost,” said Fletcher Kittredge, CEO of GWI, a Maine-based internet service provider. “All Maine citizens would benefit from having their privacy protected.”

“The state has a significant interest in protecting Maine consumers from practices that may compromise their personal data, or which place their financial well-being at risk,” said Attorney General Aaron Frey in testimony supporting LD 946. “This interest includes ensuring that consumers are made fully aware of business practices which profit from data they may prefer to be kept private.”

The bill faces further action in the committee and votes before the Maine Senate and House.