The Colorado Catholic Conference supports SB24-041, “Privacy Protections for Children’s Online Data,” which would strengthen protections for minor’s data.
In 2021, Colorado established itself as a leader in privacy protection by passing SB21-190 to establish the Colorado Privacy Act. The passage of SB 190 showed that Colorado leaders recognized the dangers that correspond with technological advances, particularly in the realm of personal data. Three years later, it is encouraging to see members of the General Assembly propose SB 41 to expand those protections to specifically address minors, whose personal data is among the most at risk on the internet.
In our society, internet use by minors is almost constant, with 97 percent of teenagers using the internet every day. However, a child’s presence on the internet can begin even sooner with a 2021 report showing that nearly 80 percent of children have a digital footprint before the age of two. A consequence of this nearly ubiquitous use is the vulnerability of a minor’s personal data for misuse. For example, In 2022, approximately 1.7 million children were victims of a data breach where their personal information was either exposed or compromised. The consequences of a loss of privacy can be devastating for the victims, especially minors.
Adding protections for a minor’s internet activity is both necessary and supported by public opinion. A survey from Pew Research showed that 85 percent of U.S. adults are concerned about the use of their child’s person data by advertisers while 73 percent favor more regulation on what companies can do with personal data. Children are among the most vulnerable in our society, especially on the internet, where they spend much of their time.
We all have an obligation to protect minors and safeguard their privacy – by passing SB 41, Colorado lawmakers can advance protections for children in an area where they are most at risk.
The Colorado Catholic Conference urges the passage of SB 41.