Privacy, Technology, and the Law

The Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law is one of seven subcommittees within the Senate Committee on the Judiciary. It operates as a specialized panel focused on a narrower slice of the full committee's jurisdiction, holding initial hearings and reviewing legislation before matters move to the full committee for potential floor consideration.

The subcommittee's jurisdiction covers oversight of laws and policies governing the collection, protection, use and dissemination of personally identifiable information by both the private sector and government, including online privacy issues. It also examines the use of technology to protect privacy and civil liberties, enhance information flow, and encourage innovation, as well as the privacy and civil liberties implications of emerging technologies.

Chaired by Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) with Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), the subcommittee has 11 members. Recent activity includes a July 2025 hearing titled "Protecting the Virtual You: Safeguarding Americans' Online Data," which examined core principles for a potential federal privacy framework. The subcommittee has also held hearings on artificial intelligence oversight, election deepfakes, and child safety on social media platforms, reflecting its broad mandate to address how technology intersects with privacy rights and consumer protection.