News From Congressman Eliot Engel

Engel Cosponsors MYDATA Act to Protect Internet Privacy

  Congressman Eliot Engel, a leading member of the House Energy & Commerce Committee, has cosponsored the MYDATA Act, a bill that would protect broadband users from unfair or deceptive practices relating to privacy or data security.

The MYDATA Act would give the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) jurisdiction over broadband providers, and would empower the FTC to promote rules that prohibit unfair and deceptive practices relating to privacy and data security across the Internet. As it currently stands, the FTC is unable to adequately protect consumers from these types of practices by broadband companies, due to a loophole in the Federal trade Commission Act.

“We live in a digital age which means controlling how our personal information is disseminated online is a difficult task,” Engel said. “Republicans in Congress and the White House have made it virtually impossible by allowing broadband providers to use and sell Americans’ sensitive information about their health, finance and families without their permission.  The MYDATA Act would help swing the pendulum back toward the consumer by giving the FTC the teeth it needs to establish safeguards for privacy and data security across the internet.

“Your personal information should not be a commodity for-sale to the highest bidder. We must take action to correct this glaring gap in the law on this crucial concern.”

The MYDATA Act was introduced by Rep. Jerry McNerney in May of 2017.  

ENGEL STATEMENT ON TRUMP'S REPORTED DISCLOSURE OF CLASSIFIED MATERIAL TO RUSSIANS

  Representative Eliot L. Engel, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today made the following statement:

“I am shocked by reports that President Trump revealed highly classified information to Russian diplomats last week. This certainly raises questions about whether the President recognizes the serious implications of disclosing such sensitive information to an adversary.

“I will be meeting later this week with National Security Advisor McMaster in a classified session, and will seek answers about what was revealed and how it could damage American national security.

“It’s time for Congress to come together in a bipartisan way, establish an independent commission to investigate, and get to the truth.”