WASHINGTON (Gray DC) – Protecting information online seems like a clear-cut issue on paper, but small business owners are sounding the alarm, saying too many restrictions could put them out of business.
Days after National Small Business Week, entrepreneurs and small business owners were back on Capitol Hill, turning the spotlight on a technical issue: data privacy.
“A lot of people don’t know that we have a free, widely available internet because of advertising,” said Brendan Thomas of Internet for Growth.
Natania Julius and her mom own JNJ Gifts and More based in Madison, Wisconsin. It’s a fully online platform they’ve been running since 2022.
“We have to post ads on social medias and use digital marketing, [search engine optimization], for them to come see us. So that is like the biggest thing for how we get our clients today and how we keep our shop running,” Julius said.
“Our main goal is to curate thoughtful gifting that can actually build relationships between these corporate companies and their clients, employees,” she said.
Their business model relies on digital marketing, a format that may be at risk as Congress debates two data privacy bills.
In April, House Republicans introduced the SECURE Data Act, a measure that would replace the many individual state laws with one national standard. The goal is to protect consumer information, particularly minors, by changing how businesses collect, store, and use data.
Small businesses want to make sure they’re included in that conversation.
“Data privacy is a good thing, but there could be unintended consequences from bills that go too far and restrict information that would have been very common for marketing and advertising purposes,” Thomas said.
Both SECURE and its partner, GUARD Financial Data Act, have a long way to go. But Julius feels progress is being made, giving her hope she reached the right audience and her business can continue to grow.
“Digital marketing being so vital to these small businesses,” Julius said. “I hope that our perspective is really taken into account.”
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