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Bill

Bill

LC 722

Provide for personal ownership of electronic data

2025 Regular Session

Montana bill establishing personal ownership rights over electronic data; died in legal review without advancement to full legislative consideration.

(LC) Draft Died in Process
#informationtechnology(seealso:communications) #privacy #property
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Bill Summary · LC 722

Legislative bill overview

Bill LC 722 would establish legal rights for individuals to own and control their personal electronic data. The bill appears designed to clarify property rights over digital information generated by or about individuals, potentially limiting how companies can use personal data without consent or compensation.

Why is this important

Personal data has become a valuable economic asset, yet most people have little legal control over information collected about them. This bill addresses a growing concern about data collection practices and could reshape relationships between individuals, technology companies, and data brokers.

Potential points of contention

  • Definition complexity: Determining what constitutes "personal electronic data" and which data qualifies for ownership protection could be difficult and litigious
  • Business model disruption: Tech companies relying on free data collection and use may face significant operational and financial challenges if forced to pay for or obtain explicit consent
  • Implementation feasibility: Enforcing data ownership rights across digital platforms, especially those operating interstate or internationally, presents substantial technical and jurisdictional hurdles
  • Economic tradeoffs: Restricting data use might reduce personalized services, targeted pricing transparency, or ad-supported free platforms that consumers currently enjoy

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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