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In the wake of the Cambridge Analytica scandal, many people are concerned about the way that big tech companies are handling our data. Illinois is taking steps to fight back against these companies and protect the privacy of its residents.
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The Problem with Big Tech
big tech companies have long been controversial, but in recent years, they’ve come under more intense scrutiny. The issues range from antitrust concerns to privacy worries to allegations of political bias. In Illinois, lawmakers are taking on big tech with a new set of laws.
Monopolization of the tech industry
The tech industry has been the driving force behind much of the innovation and economic growth of the past few decades. But as these companies have become more powerful, there has been increasing concern about their monopoly power.
In the past few years, there have been a number of high-profile antitrust investigations into these companies, and many experts believe that the current system is no longer working to promote competition in the tech industry
One of the key issues is that the big tech companies are increasingly able to use their size and power to crush potential competitors before they even have a chance to get started.
This was evident in recent months when Google used its Android operating system to block Microsoft’s Skype from being pre-installed on new phones. And it’s also been seen in how Amazon has used its dominance in the e-commerce market to stifle competition from other online retailers.
These are just a few examples of how the big tech companies are using their size and power to quash competition and create an unfair playing field. This is bad for consumers, bad for businesses, and bad for our economy as a whole.
That’s why Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has joined with a bipartisan group of state attorneys general from around the country to investigate these antitrust concerns. We believe that it’s time for a full and fair examination of whether these companies are illegally using their monopoly power to stifle competition.
Lack of privacy and security
One of the biggest problems with big tech is the lack of privacy and security. Illinois is taking steps to fight back against big tech, by requiring companies to take steps to protect consumer data. The new law, which goes into effect January 1, 2020, will require companies to take reasonable security measures to protect consumer data from unauthorized access, destruction, use, or disclosure. Companies will also be required to notify consumers if their data has been breached.
This is a good first step, but it doesn’t go far enough. Big tech companies have a history of collectings massive amounts of data on users without their consent or knowledge. They then use this data to target ads and sell products. This needs to stop.
Consumers need to be able to control their own data. They should be able to decide what information they want to share, and with whom they want to share it. They should also be able to delete their data if they want to. But none of this will happen unless we put pressure on big tech companies to change their ways.
Illinois’ Solution
The Illinois Internet Consumer Protection Act
Big tech companies have come under fire in recent years for a variety of reasons, including suspected anti-competitive practices, privacy concerns, and the spread offalse information. Now, one state is taking action.
The Illinois Internet Consumer Protection Act, which was signed into law by Governor J.B. Pritzker on August 9, 2019, is designed to protect consumers from some of the harmful practices of big tech companies. The law requires these companies to disclose how they collect and use data, prohibits them from using certain types of data without consent, and gives consumers the right to know what data has been collected about them.
The Illinois law is the first of its kind in the united states but it is unlikely to be the last. Lawmakers in other states are considering similar legislation, and there is growing pressure on the federal government to take action on this issue. Big tech companies may soon find themselves facing more scrutiny and more regulations as a result.
The Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act
The Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) is a state law that regulates the collection, use, and storage of biometric information. The law was passed in 2008 and went into effect in 2009.
BIPA defines biometric information as “a measurable biological or behavioral characteristic that can be used to identify an individual.” Examples of biometric information include fingerprints, iris scans, Scanning technologies have been on the rise in recent years as companies look for new ways to track and identify customers and employees.
The law requires companies to obtain written consent from individuals before collecting their biometric information. Companies must also disclose how the information will be used and how it will be stored. Finally, the law provides individuals with the right to file a civil lawsuit if their rights under BIPA are violated.
The Illinois legislature enacted BIPA in response to concerns about the potential misuse of biometric information. For example, there was fear that employer could use fingerprint scanners to track employee attendance or that retailers could use facial recognition technology to identify shoplifters. However, there was also concern that the law would stifle innovation and impede the development of new technology.
As a result, BIPA includes a number of exemptions for certain types of businesses and activities. For example, the law does not apply to companies that collect biometric information for employment purposes or companies that already have written consent from individuals to collect their biometric information.
Despite these exemptions, BIPA has had a significant impact on the way businesses collect and use biometric information. The law has been used to challenge the use of facial recognition technology by retail stores and other businesses. It has also been used to force companies to change their policies on storing and retaining biometric data.
What Other States Are Doing
After Illinois passed a law last year aimed at reining in tech giants, other states are considering similar measures. The Illinois legislation, which was the first of its kind in the nation, requires companies like Google and Facebook to get consent from users before collecting and sharing personal data. The law also gives the state attorney general the power to bring civil actions against tech companies that violate the law.
California
California is perhaps the most important state when it comes to regulating Silicon Valley. California is home to most of the major tech companies, and many of them are headquartered in the Bay Area. As a result, California has a lot of sway when it comes to setting the tone for tech regulation.
So far, California has taken a fairly hands-off approach to regulating the tech industry. This is partly due to the fact that many tech companies are based in California, and the state doesn’t want to stifle innovation. However, there is a growing movement in California to crack down on some of the more controversial practices of Big Tech.
One issue that California is starting to take action on is data privacy. In 2018, California passed the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), which gives consumers more control over their personal data. The CCPA requires companies to disclose what personal data they collect, allow consumers to opt out of having their data sold, and provides consumers with the right to sue if their data is mishandled.
The CCPA was a major step forward for data privacy rights, but it only applies to companies doing business in California. There have been calls for a federal law that would provide similar protections to consumers nationwide, but so far no such law has been passed.
Another issue that California is starting attention is antitrust enforcement. In 2019, the state attorney general filed antitrust lawsuits against both Google and Facebook. These lawsuits are still ongoing, but they could have major implications for the future of Big Tech if they are successful.
California is also considering passing a law that would force tech companies to be more transparent about their algorithms. This would give users more insight into how Big Tech makes decisions about what content to show us and what ads we see.
Overall, California has been relatively slow to regulate Big Tech compared to other states. However, there is a growing movement in the state to crack down on some of the more controversial practices of Silicon Valley giants.
Washington
Washington is one of the most technologically advanced states in the nation, and it has been at the forefront of the fight against big tech. In 2019, Washington enacted a law that requires companies to disclose their political spending. The law was prompted by concerns that companies like Amazon were using their vast resources to influence elections. In 2020, Washington became the first state in the nation to pass a law that protects consumers from being tracked by their internet service providers. The law prohibits ISPs from selling or sharing customer data without consent.
New York
New York has passed a series of bills meant to rein in the power of big tech companies. The first, and perhaps most consequential, is the Stop Hacks and Improve Electronic Data Security, or SHIELD, Act. The law requires companies to take reasonable steps to protect consumers’ data from unauthorized access or disclosure. It imposes penalties of up to $250,000 for each violation, and requires companies to notify consumers within 30 days of a data breach.
The state has also passed a bill that prohibits internet service providers from disclosing customers’ personal information without their consent. And another bill creates a task force to study the impact of large digital platforms on society and the economy.
The state’s attorney general, Letitia James, has also been active in going after tech companies. She has opened an antitrust investigation into Facebook, and has sued Google for violating children’s privacy laws.
What This Means for the Future
The potential for more regulation
The state of Illinois has recently proposed a number of bills that would regulate the tech industry in a variety of ways. One bill would ban the use of “non-compete” clauses in employment contracts, making it harder for companies to keep their workers from leaving to join a competitor. Another bill would require online platforms to disclose their algorithms to users, so that people would know how the platform is choosing what content to show them.
These bills are just the latest in a trend of states introducing legislation that would rein in the power of big tech companies. Other states have proposed bills that would tax the sale of data, force companies to allow users to opt out of having their data collected, and prohibit companies from using “bots” to interact with people online without disclosing that they are not human.
It remains to be seen whether any of these bills will become law, but the fact that they are being proposed at all shows that there is growing dissatisfaction with the way big tech companies are operating. There is a growing feeling that these companies have too much power and too little accountability, and that something needs to be done to level the playing field.
The potential for a break-up of big tech
There is a growing movement to break up big tech companies. The theory is that these companies have become so large and powerful that they are stifling competition and innovation. The debate over whether or not to break up big tech companies is heating up, and it’s not just happening in the United States. Europe is also taking a hard look at these companies and their impact on the tech landscape.
In the United States, there are several ongoing investigations into whether or not big tech companies are violating anti-trust laws. The European Union is also investigating these companies for possible antitrust violations. These investigations could result in major changes for these companies, including a break-up of some of their businesses.
It’s still too early to say what will happen, but the potential for a break-up of big tech companies is real and growing. This could have a major impact on the future of the tech industry, so it’s something to keep an eye on.
