WASHINGTON, DC – The Interactive Advertising Bureau’s Executive Vice President for Public Policy, Lartease Tiffith, issued the following statement in response to the Federal Trade Commission’s recent Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) which could have unintended consequences for the data-driven economy and ad-supported internet:
“With the appointment of a new commissioner, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) quickly announced a rulemaking process to potentially regulate the digital economy. Despite a call for public input, it’s clear that the majority envisions big changes to the way entire industries do business online. It’s not clear, however, whether Congress gave the FTC such broad power. What some are calling ‘commercial surveillance’ is the necessary exchange of information at the heart of the free and open internet, generating opportunities for creativity, community and commerce. Safely and securely, millions of Americans, including in the digital advertising industry, earn their livings with the responsible use of data. IAB research shows that severe restrictions could jeopardize over 17 million jobs and trillions of dollars of annual economic output. Small businesses increasingly reliant on data and digital advertising could be hardest hit. We all support reasonable policies to protect Americans’ private information, a healthy environment for children, fairness, transparency and accountability. IAB is working with bipartisan lawmakers to achieve our common goals, including innovation, jobs and economic growth, and will participate every step of the way in this process to ensure the FTC understands the value of data and digital advertising to progress and prosperity for everyone.”
