Texas Senator Ted Cruz has blocked a privateness invoice that seeks to guard all People from having their private info uncovered by information brokers — arguing that legislation enforcement wants entry to some information and that the invoice requires refinement.
The Bitcoiner was the one US Senator to object to Democrat Senator Ron Wyden’s invoice — Senate Invoice 2850 — on Wednesday, arguing a scarcity of knowledge may disrupt efforts to make sure that convicted intercourse offenders are avoided kids.
SB 2850 seeks to cease brokers from exposing private information
Wyden mentioned SB 2850 would search to supply People safety in opposition to information brokers that promote delicate information to “anybody with a bank card,” stating that some individuals use this info to hold out violence, stalking, and different felony threats.
Cruz, who has lengthy pushed again in opposition to central bank digital currencies and different surveillance measures, instructed fellow lawmakers that he’s “fascinated by increasing the safety to as extensive a universe as is possible, as is practicable, however that reply is just not but labored out.”
A narrower privateness invoice launched by Wyden instantly after, Senate Invoice 2851, which seeks to increase protections solely to federal lawmakers, state officers, and their employees, in addition to survivors of sexual assault and home violence, was additionally rejected by Cruz, citing the identical causes talked about in his objection to SB 2850.
Nonetheless, Cruz supplied to work with Wyden on the bipartisan invoice, saying he doesn’t need Congress to “do nothing and fail to take cheap widespread sense steps” that will hinder the privateness of law-abiding residents.
Cointelegraph reached out to Cruz and Wyden however didn’t obtain a response by the point of publication.
Privateness has been a extremely debated subject inside the cryptocurrency group, which was constructed on the beliefs of freedom from surveillance. Limiting the information shared with brokers can also cut back the danger of security breaches, which stays a persistent risk within the US and overseas.
There has additionally been appreciable controversy over how on-line information is saved and used. Knowledge brokers accumulate private info, from names and addresses to telephone numbers and monetary information, to promote to companies for advertising functions and to make extra knowledgeable, data-driven selections.
Privateness push comes after lawmaker’s deadly house assault
Calls to increase privateness protections for lawmakers observe the assassination of former Minnesota Consultant Melissa Hortman at her house in June.
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The Federal Bureau of Investigation believes the alleged perpetrator, Luther Boelter, discovered Hortman’s tackle via information brokers.
Members of the crypto group have additionally been focused for killings and abductions. According to a database managed by Bitcoiner Jameson Lopp, there have been over 50 assaults on individuals or households holding crypto in 2025 alone. Many of those incidents have concerned the perpetrators discovering out the home addresses of victims to hold out their assaults.
Wyden is investigating a prime crypto exec
In the meantime, Wyden confirmed that he launched an investigation into the tax methods of Dan Morehead, founding father of the crypto-focused enterprise capital agency Pantera Capital, on Wednesday.
Wyden claims Morehead improperly prevented greater than $100 million in US taxes by misrepresenting his residency standing and abusing Puerto Rico’s tax system.
Wyden mentioned Morehead handled the nine-figure capital good points as exempt from US tax legal guidelines regardless of the lion’s share of these good points being accrued whereas he was primarily based in California.
Cointelegraph reached out to Morehead for remark, however didn’t obtain a response by the point of publication.
Journal: Can privacy survive in US crypto policy after Roman Storm’s conviction?
