The Oklahoma House Technology Committee approved House Bill 1602 on Wednesday requiring internet technology companies to obtain explicit permission to collect and sell personal data. The Oklahoma Computer Data Privacy Act is a bi-partisan effort to give Oklahomans more control over their information.
“This bill protects Oklahomans from companies that seek strictly to profit off of the buying or selling of their personal data so they can then try to steer their purchasing and other life decisions,” Representative Josh West said. “These practices by big tech are wrong and harmful. The only argument against this bill is that it limits big tech’s profitability. I’m OK with that.”
West is one of the primary authors along with Representative Collin Walke. Oklahoma is one of the first states to propose an “opt-in” requirement for personal data collection and sale.
“It is a bit absurd that these companies think it’s ok to do this in the first place,” Walke said. “This legislation is a chance for our citizens to stand up to large corporations and this intrusive practice. We don’t have to sit back and let our data be taken from us, and we aren’t going to.”
The measure is eligible to be heard on the House floor.
