WASHINGTON, D.C.—Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV today announced the Committee will hold a hearing to examine online consumer privacy on Wednesday, March 16 at 10:00 a.m. The hearing will kick off the 112th Congress’ deliberations on consumer privacy, an issue that is front and center on the Commerce Committee’s agenda, and a top priority for Chairman Rockefeller.

“Modern technology has connected people with the world and led to new innovations, new products and new experiences,” Chairman Rockefeller said. “But with these new opportunities come new risks. I want to know if the privacy protections we have in place are enough, or whether Congress needs to step in and do more. As Chairman, I’m committed to doing everything I can to protect consumers’ privacy.”

Wednesday’s hearing will examine commercial practices that involve collecting, maintaining, using, and disseminating large amounts of consumer information, some of it potentially very sensitive and private in nature. It comes on the heels of two new reports by the Federal Trade Commission and the U.S. Department of Commerce calling for greater privacy protections for Americans online.

Chairman Rockefeller has spearheaded Senate efforts to protect consumers’ privacy in our increasingly online world.  This is the 2^nd in a continued series of hearings examining how users’ information is stored, collected and used and what more Congress can do to protect Americans online. 

Individuals with disabilities who require an auxiliary aid or service, including closed captioning service for webcast hearings, should contact Collenne Wider at 202-224-5511 at least three business days in advance of the hearing date.