RELEASE: Congressman Cloud Reintroduces the You Own the Data Act (YODA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, May 4th, Congressman Michael Cloud reintroduced the You Own the Data Act (YODA), reaffirming personal ownership of user data, prohibiting companies from collecting and selling private data without consent, and giving Americans tools to protect their privacy.

Big Tech has commodified personal data as a product to be sold for profit. YODA prohibits companies from requiring users to surrender their data as a condition of service, limits data collection to what is reasonably necessary to provide the requested service, and bans tracking cookies without explicit user authorization.

To give the law teeth, YODA empowers both the Federal Trade Commission and State Attorneys General to pursue enforcement action. It also creates a private right of action, allowing any individual to bring a civil suit against companies with annual gross revenues of $50 million or more.

“The Constitution protects Americans’ right to private property and privacy from unwarranted searches and seizures. That principle doesn’t disappear the moment you open a browser,” said Rep. Cloud.

Read the bill here