Lawmakers have struggled to come up with a way to replace a patchwork of differing state regulations, but Podesta said he is optimistic the issue could advance in the current Congress.

"We think there's real urgency with moving forward in legislation in this regard," he said.

Also stalled: a proposal to update the outdated Electronic Privacy Communications Act to protect email and other data stored in the cloud, Podesta noted.

Yet to be tested on Capitol Hill is draft legislation, to be unveiled this month, aimed at empowering consumers to have a say in how their online data is harvested and sold by companies.

Podesta also has sought to raise awareness of concerns that Big Data could be used to discriminate against people based on race or where they live for housing or jobs.

On Thursday, the White House will release a report on how companies use Big Data to offer different prices to different consumers.

Big Data techniques have "turbocharged" price discrimination, raising concerns about fairness, particularly when consumers do not control their own data or understand how companies are using it, Podesta said.

"The report concludes that increased consumer transparency and control can help prevent harmful discrimination in high-stakes transactions and urges policy makers to guard against such outcomes," Podesta said.

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