Prospects for greater FTC authority bolstered in Senate Commerce hearing on privacy

Lawmakers and industry representatives expressed strong support for handing the Federal Trade Commission greater authority to issue civil fines for first-time privacy violations and to craft rules on the issue, as the Senate Commerce Committee delved into privacy for the first time this year.

“I wouldn't be surprised if the FTC ended up with some rulemaking authority,” Commerce Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS) told reporters after his panel's hearing.

Witnesses before the committee mostly testified in support of giving the FTC...