Reps. Cockley, Rader Introduce Legislation to Prevent Profit from Sensitive Data

COLUMBUS — State Reps. Christine Cockley (D-Columbus) and Tristan Rader (D-Lakewood) today announced they will be introducing legislation which would prevent agencies, officials, and data brokers from selling or distributing sensitive personal data unless it is used for a legally defined permitted purpose.

“Ohioans deserve to know their personal information isn’t being treated like a product on a shelf. Our data is deeply personal, and it should never be bought and sold for profit without strict legal safeguards,” said Rep. Cockley.

“With the new ability of AI to weaponize your data against you, it is more important than ever to take action to protect the privacy of Ohioans. Your data is yours and shouldn’t be sold to corporations and government agencies like ICE,” said Rep. Rader. “We’ve seen information being scraped from apps like social media apps and even the weather app to track individuals.”

House Democrats continue to put forward legislation that supports community safety, upholds civil rights, and provides clarity and stability for local residents, schools, and law enforcement partners.

You can view the press conference here.