Bloomberg Law, May 7, 2020

By Dan Stoller

Technology companies helping to fight the coronavirus are policing themselves to protect consumer data in the absence of a comprehensive US statute and only a few state privacy laws. The companies are taking voluntary steps based on Europe’s privacy law, such as restricting the types of data they collect and stating upfront their specific purpose for gathering information.

The companies say they’re taking privacy seriously during the virus, even without state and federal statutes. “Privacy and security are always important,” said Kate Goodloe, policy director with BSA | The Software Alliance. Group members, including Microsoft, have built privacy protections “into their business models,” she said.

BSA | The Software Alliance supports the creation of a federal privacy regime, but “companies should respect the privacy and security of data they hold, even without a national privacy law,” Goodloe said.

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Original Posting: https://news.bloomberglaw.com/privacy-and-data-security/tech-companies-take-privacy-reins-during-virus-absent-u-s-law