As Data Privacy Day 2026 approaches, organizations face an inflection point in privacy, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity compliance. The pace of technological adoption, in particular AI tools, continues to outstrip legal, governance, and risk frameworks. At the same time, regulators, plaintiffs, and businesses are increasingly focused on how data is collected, used, monitored, and safeguarded.
Rhode Island Takes Steps to Safeguard Judicial Officer Security
Rhode Island’s Governor recently signed the Rhode Island Judicial Security Act (H5892), which aims to bolster the privacy and security of current and former judicial officers and their families by introducing several measures to safeguard their personal information.
Definition of Protected Individuals
The Act defines “protected individuals” as current, retired, or recalled justices
Are Employees Receiving Regular Data Protection Training? Are They AI Literate?
Employee security awareness training is a best practice and a “reasonable safeguard” for protecting the privacy and security of an organization’s sensitive data. The list of data privacy and cybersecurity laws mandating employee data protection training continues to grow and now includes the EU AI Act. The following list is a high-level sample of employee
Firings at the US Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board and Potential Impact on Transatlantic Data Transfers
President Trump recently fired the three democrats on the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB). Since these firings bring the Board to a sub-quorum level, they have the potential to significantly disrupt transatlantic transfers of employee and other personal data from the EU to the US under the EU-US Data Privacy Framework (DPF).
The
Update: Transfers under the Swiss-U.S. Data Privacy Framework
The Swiss Federal Council has added the U.S. to the list of countries with an adequate level of data protection. Effective September 15, 2024, U.S. organizations that certify to the Swiss–U.S. Data Privacy Framework (DPF) can commence receiving transfers of personal data from Switzerland without implementing additional safeguards.
While U.S. organizations were permitted to certify
Rhode Island Passes a Comprehensive Consumer Data Privacy Law
On June 25, 2024, Rhode Island became the 20th state to enact a comprehensive consumer data protection law, the Rhode Island Data Transparency and Privacy Protection Act (“RIDTPPA”). The state joins Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, and New Jersey in passing consumer data privacy laws this year.
The RIDTPPA takes effect on January
Minnesota Passes a Comprehensive Consumer Data Privacy Law
On May 24, 2024, Minnesota’s governor signed an omnibus bill, HF4757 which included the new Consumer Data Privacy Act. The state joins Kentucky, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Rhode Island in passing consumer data privacy laws this year.
Minnesota’s law takes effect July 31, 2025, except that postsecondary institutions and nonprofit corporations governed by
A Wave of Lawsuits Under Daniel’s Law
In 2020, Daniel Anderl, the son of Federal Judge Esther Salas, was shot and killed by a man targeting the judge. It is believed the man found the judge’s home address online. In reaction to the murder, New Jersey enacted “Daniel’s Law” which prohibits the disclosure of the home address and unpublished telephone number of
Maryland Passes Comprehensive Data Privacy Law, Joining the Swelling State Ranks
Maryland’s governor recently signed the Maryland Online Data Privacy Act of 2024 (MODPA), making Maryland one of six states—along with Kentucky, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Rhode Island—to pass a comprehensive privacy law this year. Overall, 19 states (and counting) now have such laws on their books.
Maryland’s law takes effect October 1
The American Privacy Rights Act?
In what is being called the American Privacy Rights Act (Act), some are suggesting this could be the one! For many years, Congress has been unable to come together to craft a national privacy law. There have been several snags, including whether to preempt state privacy laws and whether to provide a private right of