It was a big month for privacy news as well as Privacy Lawls. This month, we interviewed privacy attorney Paul Singer on Privacy Lawls. Check out our discussion where we talk about the rise of privacy law enforcement in Texas. Be sure to check that episode out!
What’s new in privacy?
Below are some of the most notable news in privacy from this month:
- T-Mobile reaches a $31.5 million settlement with the FCC. In early October, the FCC announced that T-Mobile has agreed to a $31.5 million settlement for exposing personal information during a data breach. The settlement will be split between a civil penalty paid to the US Treasury and enhancements to T-Mobile’s security infrastructure. Read more here.
- Marriott International to pay Wisconsin over $800,000 in data breach settlement. On October 11, 2024, the Department of Justice announced that Wisconsin would receive more than $830,000 from a multi-state settlement with Marriott International, Inc. The payout is part of a larger $52 million settlement that required the company to commit to improve data security standards. Read more here.
- Congress urges DOJ to prosecute tax preparation companies due to privacy violations. On October 18, 2024, Congress wrote a letter to Attorney General Lisa Monaco urging her to investigate and prosecute major tax preparation companies that violated taxpayer privacy rights. This comes after Congress’s investigation determined that the companies shared sensitive information with third parties without obtaining taxpayer consent. Learn more here.
- DOJ proposes a new rule to restrict the selling of American data to adversarial countries. The Department of Justice has proposed new regulations that would restrict the selling of American data to adversarial countries. The countries include: China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, and Venezuela. The regulation would prevent US personnel or companies from selling information to any entity at least 50% owned or located in one of the above countries. Learn more here.
- FCC partners with ten Attorney Generals to foster privacy protection. The FCC’s Privacy and Data Protection Task Force announced a partnership between the agency’s Enforcement Bureau and State Attorney Generals to address privacy, data protection, and cybersecurity enforcement matters. Read more here.
- Pinterest hit with a complaint for using consumer data without consent. On October 22, 2024, NOYB filed a complaint against Pinterest for allegedly using customer data without consent. The complaint alleges that Pinterest is failing to comply with GDPR opt-in and opt-out requirements. The complaint requests that Pinterest be fined to prevent similar violations in the future. Read more here.
- LinkedIn fined 310 million Euros for GDPR privacy violation. On October 24, 2024, EU regulators fined LinkedIn for violating GDPR data privacy rules. LinkedIn is accused of processing personal data for targeted advertising without an appropriate legal basis. Learn more here.
- Texas files lawsuit against TikTok for alleged children’s privacy violations. The lawsuit alleges violations of Texas Securing Children Online through Parental Empowerment Act due to the sharing of personal information of minors without parental consent. Read more here.
- FTC claims that large companies engage in the surveillance of users. The Federal Trade Commission released a 129-page report that claims that large social media and streaming companies such as Discord, Meta, Facebook, Twitch and more engage in a vast surveillance of users and profit off of personal data. Learn more here.
- Cisco study shows relationship between privacy and trust in AI. The 2024 Cisco Consumer Privacy Survey reveals that most consumers (53%) are now aware of privacy laws. The study showed that 63% of consumers believe that AI can be useful and improve their lives and 59% say that strong privacy laws make them more comfortable sharing information in AI applications. Read more here.
What privacy bills are we tracking?
As part of our service, we keep track of privacy bills that would affect the way Privacy Policies are written. Below is our most recent list of privacy bill proposals in the United States. You can access the privacy bill tracker any time on our blog.
Massachusetts – MA HD2281/SB745;
Massachusetts – MA HD3263/SD1971;
Massachusetts – MA HD3245
Events
Here are some great virtual events that you can attend to learn more about the hottest issues in privacy and meet other privacy professionals:
- Don’t panic: the privacy professional’s guide to the AI galaxy – November 6, 2024;
- The EU-US Data Privacy Framework: first anniversary and looking ahead – November 14, 2024;
- Practical tips to harmonize financial and comprehensive privacy laws – December 3, 2024.
Hopefully, you found this helpful! Be sure to check back next month for our latest episode of Privacy Lawls as well as privacy news for December.
