IAB Public Policy Newsletter – December 2022

“Commercial Surveillance” Rules Threaten Internet Economy

Digital advertising powers the U.S. economy, connecting businesses and consumers, expanding web users' choice of products and services, and creating opportunities for small businesses and creators on a multitude of e-commerce and media platforms. To some legislators and regulators, however, this essential technology is "commercial surveillance," a trendy new term with potentially devastating consequences.

This year, the U.S. House of Representatives failed to advance the Banning Surveillance Advertising Act, which could have potentially banned first-party data for advertising purposes. A federal privacy bill featuring some of the same ideas has also stalled in Congress.