Washington – The Computer & Communications Industry Association is submitting comments today to the New Hampshire House Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee opposing House Bill 1589 because of concerns about privacy and technical details. The association warned that the proposal would impose sweeping, one-size-fits-all mandates on digital services that could stifle innovation, increase compliance costs, and harm small businesses and consumers.
HB 1589 would require online platforms to fundamentally redesign core systems to enable third-party access and broad data portability. While CCIA supports data portability, HB1589 would also require companies to redesign systems for third-party access, and the requirements apply regardless of risk, size, or demonstrated consumer harm.
The legislation reflects a broader trend of state-level efforts to regulate digital services through structural mandates rather than targeted, risk-based approaches. CCIA has consistently warned that such proposals risk creating a patchwork of inconsistent state regulations that fragment national markets and disproportionately burden startups and small businesses operating across state lines.
CCIA also warned against compelling companies to open sensitive systems and user data to third parties without clear safeguards or nationally consistent standards. Doing so could increase the risk of data misuse, fraud, and abuse, ultimately weakening consumer trust and privacy protections.
The following statement can be attributed to Kyle Sepe, Northeast Region State Policy Manager for CCIA:
“HB 1589 replaces a thoughtful, risk-based approach with rigid structural requirements that would impose significant costs while doing little to address specific, demonstrated harms. Mandating how digital services must be built and operated risks exposing users to new security vulnerabilities and making it harder for smaller companies to compete. New Hampshire should avoid policies that could reduce consumer choice, weaken privacy protections, and slow innovation.”
