Sending a clear message, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced the settlement of two separate enforcement actions against data brokers for selling precise location data that may be used to reveal sensitive information. On January 9, the FTC settled with Outlogic, LLC (formerly X-Mode Social) over allegations that it failed to obtain meaningful consent from consumers before collecting and selling data that could be used to track visits to sensitive locations like clinics and places of…
The ICO has recently launched a public consultation on the first chapter of its draft guidance on generative AI and data protection. This consultation has a particular focus, it is a call to explore the lawful basis for extracting data from the web to train generative AI models (a process which is becoming more common across numerous markets). The ICO is requesting input from developers, users and wider interested parties. What is generative AI? Generative…
Organizations subject to the Washington State My Health My Data Act (generally any organization with physical premises in Washington, and many organizations without it) are preparing for compliance by March 31, 2024. And should, in addition to the overall compliance requirements and immediate action items, be aware that the Washington Attorney General updated its guidance on the requirements for a consumer health privacy policy. Section 4(1)(b) of the My Health My Data Act explicitly provides…
On January 7, 2024, China’s Cyberspace Administration (“CAC”) closed the public consultation period for its new cybersecurity incident reporting rules, which were released in December. If the draft rules are adopted as written, companies would be required to report certain cybersecurity incidents to the relevant Chinese regulator within one hour. The relevant regulator depends on the nature of the IT system compromised, the industry, and other factors and may be the local CAC, the public…
New Jersey is the 13th US State to Pass Comprehensive Consumer Privacy Legislation Consistent with our prediction that 2024 will bring a significant crop of new state consumer privacy laws, the New Jersey legislature recently became the 13th state to pass a comprehensive privacy statute. On January 8—the final day of its 2022-2023 legislative session—the Senate passed bill S332. Once enacted—either with Governor Phil Murphy signing the bill or after 45 days if he takes…
On December 22, 2023 the EU Regulation on harmonised rules on fair access to and use of data, also known as the Data Act, was published in the Official Journal of the European Union. It shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication, namely on January 11, 2024, and become applicable on September 12, 2025. The Data Act affects manufacturers of connected products and also providers of related services, including virtual…
In the classic movie “The Wizard of Oz,” Dorothy, Scarecrow and Tinman walk through the forest while expressing great concern about the “lions and tigers and bears, oh my!” they may face on their journey to Oz. Companies experiencing global ransomware and cyberattacks can experience similar emotions as they grapple with increasingly complex global legal risks. Across the globe, local legislatures and regulatory authorities have established a multitude of different and sometimes conflicting legal obligations…
On December 21, 2023 the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued updates to its Data Breach Notification Rule, which applies to telecommunications carriers, as well as to voice over internet protocol (VoIP) and telecommunications relay service (TRS) providers. The updated Data Breach Notification Rule marks the most significant changes to the Rule since its adoption 16 years ago and modernizes the FCC requirements by bringing them more closely in line with other breach reporting obligations. The…
The SDPA and the CNMC, among other institutions, launch a series of coordinated actions related to the age verification of minors online, aimed at reinforcing their protection and preventing their access to harmful content. As in the rest of the European Union, the protection of minors online is one of the main areas of concern of Spanish authorities such as the Spanish Data Protection Agency (“SDPA”), the National Commission for Markets and Competition (“CNMC”) and…
This past year brought the rapid rise of ChatGPT and other generative AI platforms, accompanied by several noteworthy legal and regulatory developments. 2024 promises to continue with technology advances, making it a pivotal year for businesses navigating global data privacy and cybersecurity risks. Our Baker McKenzie Top 10 predictions for 2024 follow. AI-enhanced cyber threats will increase globally. Threat actors will continue to leverage AI for increasingly sophisticated attacks, exploiting new technologies to enable highly-personalized…