Hillary Clinton Champions Privacy

U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, who was embroiled in the FBI Filegate controversy during her husband's presidency, has now become a champion of privacy, according to David Lazarus of the Washington Post.

Mrs. Clinton is now pushing a bill to protect Americans' privacy.

Hillary "has emerged as a leading champion of privacy rights. Her bill, an amendment to S1637, would require U.S. companies to notify customers about any personal info going overseas and to allow customers to 'opt out' from the practice," wrote Lazarus

During her husband's administration there were numerous questions about the improper use of government files for political purposes, including FBI background files of leading Republicans and Linda Tripp's personnel file, which was leaked to the press.

Still, Mrs. Clinton's action moves her to a more centrist position, as privacy rights are a major issue for conservatives and libertarians.

Clinton's amendment to Senate Bill 1637 would also hold U.S. companies liable for the actions of their overseas contractors, thus providing consumers with a much-needed avenue of recourse should data go astray.

"I'm particularly concerned about medical and financial information," Clinton told the Post. "We are in danger of ceding much of our privacy."

But one proviso of Mrs. Clinton's bill may be worrisome.

Buried in the language of her bill is that "much-needed avenue of recourse" for consumers - a provision which will open a whole new area of litigation: lawsuits against companies that violate privacy rights.

And who donates big time to the Democrats? Trial lawyers.

Editor's note: