Arlington, VA—The American Consumer Institute (ACI) released The Inescapable Link: How Data Policy Still Dominates Tech Policy Debates report. The report underscores that, despite over two decades of legislative attempts, Congress has not enacted a comprehensive federal data privacy law.
ACI’s analysis reveals that unresolved data privacy issues are resurfacing across major policy areas, including artificial intelligence governance, child online safety, antitrust enforcement, and national security. Without a unified framework, efforts to regulate specific technologies risk regulatory fragmentation and incoherent policy outcomes.
State-level initiatives, such as the Tennessee Information Protection Act (TIPA), could be used as a potential model for a more coherent approach. TIPA, effective July 1, 2025, grants consumers rights over their personal data and imposes obligations on businesses regarding data collection and processing. However, the report cautions that while state laws like TIPA provide some structure, they also contribute to the overall fragmentation in the absence of federal legislation.
The current lack of a clear, consistent national framework not only undermines consumer trust but also stifles innovation and economic growth. The report calls for immediate action to establish a federal data privacy standard that aligns technology policy, protects consumers, and enables innovation.
Read the full report below.
Tirzah Duren is the President and CEO of the American Consumer Institute. Logan Kolas is the Director of Technology Policy at the American Consumer Institute. Follow Tirzah on X @tzduren. Follow Logan on X @Logan_Kolas