Laws and Regulations
As the collection, use and sharing of personal information has grown, so has the legislative interest in data privacy laws. Over 137 countries now have their own data protection laws regulating the collection, use, disclosure, and security of personal information. While the scope and implementation of data protection laws vary by country, strong data protection is driven by core privacy principles.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accessibility Act of 1996, as amended, in conjunction with its implementing regulations, governs the privacy and security of “Protected Health Information” (PHI). It applies to PHI that is collected, maintained, used, or transmitted by “Covered Entities” and their “Business Associates”, in any medium.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that regulates access and disclosure of student education records.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) plays a pivotal role in enforcing privacy laws that safeguard consumers' personal information in the United States.
Global privacy laws aim to protect individuals' personal data by regulating its collection, storage, and usage by organizations. Key principles include informed consent, data minimization, purpose limitation, accuracy, storage limitation, and accountability.
In the United States, state privacy laws complement federal regulations, providing additional protections and requirements for handling personal information. These laws vary significantly from state to state, impacting businesses, organizations, and individuals in various ways.
Federal and state laws play a pivotal role in safeguarding SSNs, aiming to prevent identity theft and ensure responsible handling of this sensitive data. Understanding these laws is essential for both individuals and organizations to protect privacy rights and comply with legal requirements.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a transformative technology that is rapidly increasing in popularity. AI models apply algorithms to data inputs to achieve a task or produce an output. The use of these models has potential privacy and regulatory implications.
Children's online privacy has become a top priority in the United States at both the federal and state levels. Key areas of policy, regulatory, and enforcement activity continue to focus on guardrails around behavioral tracking and targeted advertising towards minors, increased consent requirements to gain access to minors' personal information, and access to, as well as the use of, social media by minors.