Privacy bill prompts tech‑industry pushback over security and constitutional risks

Representative Mike Moffett introduced the Digital Choice Act (HB 15‑89) as legislation to give users a right to delete personal data held by social platforms and to enable retrieval of information provided at signup. "A user shall have the right to delete personal data held by social media," Moffett said when summarizing the bill’s core provision.

NetChoice’s Patrick Hedger testified in opposition, arguing that major portions of the bill — particularly interoperability and data‑portability mandates — would force platforms to provide interfaces that could be exploited by malicious actors and would raise constitutional problems. "Once a backdoor is created where it did not otherwise exist, it is not just there for the good guys," Hedger said, warning that mandated sharing of social graphs could nonconsensually expose third‑party connections.

Committee members raised enforceability and jurisdictional questions because many platforms operate outside New Hampshire’s borders. Sponsors said the bill’s consumer‑protection elements warrant subcommittee review, but several members cited concerns about practicality and potential conflicts with federal case law and platform practices. Written testimony was provided and the committee received copies for its record.