LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Regulating data usage is a drag on small business

The June 15 Guest Commentary “New European Rules Give U.S. Internet Users True Privacy Choices for the First Time” completely ignores the consequences that sweeping privacy rules like the ones implemented in Europe can have on small businesses, which employ 1.1 million Missourians.

Small businesses, like my plumbing company, rely on Facebook, Google, Pinterest, Quickbooks, and many more digital platforms and tools. If Congress regulates how digital companies collect and analyze data, I am concerned that they are only thinking about large corporations and will do something that will hurt our company and millions more small businesses that use these platforms and tools.

With digital marketing and business tools our company spends less and earns more. Customers today seem to know us when they hire us, which is very different than when our advertising was on paper. With reviews and public comments on Facebook and Google, prospective customers get a real feel for our people and our ethic, and that makes us part of a community rather than just another business.

See original posting from the Columbia Missourian.

Stella Crewse is the CEO of Morgan Miller Plumbing in Grandview and Board Member of the Connected Commerce Council (3C), which supports and empowers small businesses with the digital resources they need to succeed faster and more profitably.