U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) recently proposed bipartisan legislation to protect Americans from online fraud, spam and other cyberthreats.
“The Internet knows no borders, and too often, the threats we face online don’t come from here in the United States,” Rep. McMorris Rodgers said. “We need the tools to address online threats across international boundaries.”
The congresswoman on Oct. 22 sponsored the U.S. SAFE WEB Extension Act, H.R. 4779, with cosponsor U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL) to extend the Undertaking Spam, Spyware, And Fraud Enforcement With Enforcers beyond Borders (U.S. SAFE WEB) Act of 2006 for an additional seven years “to continue fighting cyberthreats around the world,” she said.
Specifically, the U.S. SAFE WEB Act of 2006, which most recently was reauthorized in 2012 through September 2020, authorizes the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to bolster cross-border cooperation on consumer protection investigations and fraud actions, and to support cross-border data transfer mechanisms like the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmaker’s office.
Rep. McMorris Rodgers added that the U.S. SAFE WEB Act of 2006 also enables the FTC “to step in and address international threats online and protect Americans’ privacy and sensitive or financial information.”
“We should be able to address this malicious activity that targets American families by working with our international law enforcement partners,” said Rep. Kelly. “This important bipartisan measure will ensure that the Federal Trade Commission has the resources and authority to cooperate with foreign law enforcement agencies and tackle fraud and deception.”
H.R. 4779 has been referred for consideration to the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee.