Jessica Rich: Federal Trade Commission called on Congress to pass a federal law protecting basic privacy rights of all Americans in May 2000. Congress failed to act in 2000, and still, over twenty years later, despite exhaustive debate and many dozens of bills and hearings, has failed to pass comprehensive federal law. The need for legislation was clear, even before we had mobile devices, social networks, apps, and detailed tracking of our every movement and location, she says. Despite its shortcomings for the current marketplace, it would be very different if Congress had passed such a law in 2000.”]