On October 30, 2023, President Biden issued an Executive Order regarding the Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence across the federal government. The Executive Order (EO) is intended to establish new standards for AI safety and security. The EO builds on principles set forth last year in the White House’s Blueprint for an AI Bill
privacy
Sanction Policies Can Help Drive Cybersecurity and HIPAA Compliance, OCR Says
Many HIPAA covered entities and business associates struggle with developing and implementing a sanctions policy. What should it say, is zero-tolerance required, do we have to impose discipline in every case, etc. These are examples of frequent and thorny questions that arise in connection with the development and implementation of these policies. But they are…
OCR Official Speaks About Compliance Concerns for HIPAA Covered Entities and Business Associates
What do ransomware, Yelp, and website tracking technologies all have in common? They are troubling areas of concern for HIPAA covered entities and business associates, according to one official from the federal Office for Civil Rights (OCR) which enforces the HIPAA privacy and security rules. Recently, the Executive Editor of Information Security Media Group’s (ISMG’s)…
Websites: A Growing Compliance Concern – CCPA, HIPAA, Accessibility, State Laws…(Updated)
Websites play a vital role for organizations. They facilitate communication with consumers, constituents, patients, employees, donors, and the general public. They project an organization’s image and promote goodwill, provide information about products and services and allow for their purchase. Websites also inform investors about performance, enable job seekers to view and apply for open positions,…
Iowa’s Governor Signs Comprehensive Consumer Privacy Law
On March 28, 2023, Iowa’s Governor signed Iowa’s new statute relating to consumer data protection. Iowa joins California, Colorado, Connecticut, Utah, and Virginia in the ever-growing patchwork of consumer privacy laws across the country.
The new law takes effect on January 1, 2025.
Iowa’s consumer privacy law covers businesses…

Getting Healthcare in 2023 and Beyond…Virtually…and Securely
Much is being written about “remote work” – is it productive, will demand for it continue or be curtailed in a recession, is cybersecurity compromised, does it inhibit workplace culture, collaboration, etc. Lots of questions, few clear answers. The discussion seems largely centered on office workers, professional services providers like me, who generally can perform…

HIPAA Regulated Entities: Website or App Tracking Technologies, Pixels Can Create Significant Compliance and Litigation Risks
Last month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued a bulletin with guidance concerning the use of online tracking technologies by covered entities and business associates under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). The OCR Bulletin follows a significant uptick in litigation concerning these technologies…
Top 10 Blog Posts for the Workplace Privacy, Data Management & Security Report for 2022
As the year comes to a close here are some of the highlights from the Workplace Privacy, Data Management & Security Report with our Top 10 most popular posts of 2022:
1. California Consumer Privacy Act FAQs: Employment Information
As the California Privacy Rights Act moves toward taking effect and exceptions applying to employment-related data…
White House Weighs In On the Use of AI by Businesses
On October 3, 2022, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy published its “Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights.” This adds to prior federal guidance released by the EEOC and DOJ regarding the use of AI in employment decisions.
The framework published by the White House is intended to apply…
Amendment to CMIA Regarding Mental Health and Mental Health Apps
California passed Assembly Bill (AB) 2089, which amends the Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (CMIA) to include mental health application information under the definition of medical information. Under the revisions to CMIA, mental health application information is defined as information related to a consumer’s inferred or diagnosed mental health or substance use disorder, as…