Connected Commerce Council Executive Director Rob Retzlaff Issues Statement Criticizing the American Privacy Rights Act Ahead of Key House Subcommittee Vote

WASHINGTON, May 22, 2024 – Connected Commerce Council (3C) Executive Director Rob Retzlaff today issued the following statement on the American Privacy Rights Act’s (APRA’s) harmful impacts on small businesses. Retzlaff’s comments came ahead of a hearing and vote on APRA in the House Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce.

“Small businesses need a federal data privacy law that ends today’s patchwork of state laws, protects consumers, and recognizes that data-powered digital tools are essential to small businesses’ growth and success. 

“Unfortunately, APRA fails to deliver what small businesses need. It overregulates the collection and use of basic data and makes standard business practices–like personalized emails to existing customers–illegal. Its small business carveout is meaningless because even the smallest businesses generate over 200,000 website visits a year. And its private right of action makes small businesses easy targets for costly, frivolous lawsuits. 

“Subcommittee members and sponsors must carefully consider these serious flaws and significantly amend APRA before it becomes law and hurts millions of American small businesses.”