Intel Drafts Model Legislation to Spur Data Privacy Discussion

Intel released model legislation designed to inform policymakers and spur discussion on personal data privacy. Prompted by the rapid rise of new technologies like AI, Intel’s model bill is open for review and comment from privacy experts and the public. The bill’s language and comments received should provide useful insight for those interested in meaningful data privacy legislation.

“The collection of personal information is a growing concern. The US needs a privacy law that both protects consumer privacy and creates a framework in which important new industries can prosper. Our model bill is designed to spur discussion that helps inspire meaningful privacy legislation,“ said David Hoffman, Intel associate general counsel and global privacy officer.

People need assurances that information that is shared, both knowingly and unknowingly, will be used in beneficial, responsible ways, and that they will be appropriately protected. Intel’s model data privacy bill aims to bring together policymakers and others in a transparent and open process that helps drive the development of actual data privacy legislation. Intel has launched a website where interested parties can review and comment on the model bill. Company leaders believe input will help to promote the development of constructive data privacy legislation in Congress.

Privacy is an important and ongoing issue in our data-centric world. In a white paper published last month, Intel’s Global Privacy team laid out six policy principles for safety and privacy in the age of AI, one of the technical domains that has significant privacy implications. New legislative and regulatory initiatives should be comprehensive, technology neutral and support the free flow of data, Intel stated in a white paper last month. Among other  policy prinicples they said that organizations should embrace risk-based accountability approaches, putting in place technical or organizational measures to minimize privacy risks in AI.

Automated decision-making should be fostered while augmenting it with safeguards to protect individuals, Intel said in the white paper. Governments should promote access to data, supporting the creation of reliable datasets available to all, fostering incentives for data sharing, and promoting cultural diversity in data sets. They also think that funding research in security is essential to protect privacy.