Privacy. It’s a facet of life that used to be a given but is increasingly hard to come by. We’re all interconnected online, and social media took off before we had a chance to adapt and consider the privacy implications. 

Companies like Facebook have caught bad press for privacy-related concerns, and privacy will be an important point of interest as society moves forward. 

The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) was signed into law in 2018, and ever since, a number of legislative bodies on other states have signed similar laws of their own. Below we’ll dive into some of the new internet privacy laws that were recently passed. 

New Internet Privacy Laws You Need to Know About

There have been a number of questionable privacy practices carried out in recent years. Many companies are looking into privacy rights solutions as a way to respond. 

Here are some of the most critical internet privacy laws that were passed:

1. The Rhode Island Consumer Privacy Act of 2019

This was a bill that was introduced in March, and it outlines how companies should handle all of your privacy information. When you are looking into this act, you’ll keep in mind that the laws apply to literally any business that collects data from its consumers. 

Companies that violate these laws can pay penalties upwards of between $100 and $750 per consumer. This sort of act keeps businesses honest while protecting the concerns of the consumer. 

2. Minnesota HF 2917/SF 2912

Minnesota recently introduced two pieces of legislation — Minnesota HF 2917 and SF 2912.

With 2917, consumers get some say over what kind of data they share. They will have the chance to restrict the use of any data at any point. It includes points of information related to civil cases that can be filed as a result of a breach, in addition to information that must be laid out in a privacy policy. 

The state of Minnesota also introduced SF 2912, which is one of the more all-encompassing points of privacy law when compared to others that were introduced. 

This particular one considers points such as the info collected from consumers, the ability to opt-out, and access to shared data. It also covers obligations and variables related to the business itself, such as purpose limitation and data breach notification. 

3. The New York Privacy Act

This New York bill is the creme de la creme when it comes to the recent legislation that was introduced. 

It was introduced in the summer of 2019 and lays out points that strengthen and build on the measures that the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) first presented. 

In this regard, New York’s bill lets consumers figure out exactly which companies are taking and using their information. It also lays out parameters that let people figure out how exactly the company is using data. 

As such, residents in New York will have some info to go on if they play to take further legal action to sue companies that breach their information. Companies in tech and other industries are bucking back against the bill since they rely heavily on data, and are already squeamish about the precedent that the California law sets. 

In terms of the privacy landscape, this is the next law that states and businesses all over will be keying in on to see how it plays out. 

4. New Mexico (SB 176)

New Mexico is yet another state getting in on privacy legislation. 

On a basic level, it is very similar to the laws passed by California. In addition to many of the same changes, the New Mexico legislature suggests revisiting these points on a yearly basis in order to gauge how they fit and how they are working. 

This type of measure will be important as time goes on and privacy becomes an increasingly vital thing to keep in mind. 

5. Mississippi (HB 2153)

Mississippi’s bill is yet another “clone” of sorts, as some of the language included in the bill is, word for word, the same as the California law. 

It not only details what kind of privacy can be taken and what businesses must disclose. This bill had some issues and failed before getting passed into law. 

6. Maine Senate Bill 946

In terms of privacy legislation, this was a landmark filing that will also set the tone for how we address data and internet information. 

It was passed in the spring and was a step toward protecting consumer’s privacy from the Internet Service Providers (ISP) and other businesses that collect it. They will need to be diligent and transparent about their disclosures and will need to put the consumer above all. 

7. The Maryland Online Consumer Protection Act

The state of Maryland also lays out details that protect the consumer. Much of the content is similar to the California law, only Maryland makes changes to areas of deletion rights and other such matters. 

Maryland didn’t, however, touch on how data relates to minors using the internet. 

8. Nevada SB 220

In terms of privacy issues, Nevada SB 220 is another one of the 2019 pieces of legislation that was passed. 

It was passed into law and gives Nevada residents access to privacy protection as it relates to opting out or disclosing certain points of information. 

Stay Up to Date With Internet Privacy Laws

As you consider the tips in this article, you’ll need to make sure that you keep an eye on bills that are popping up all over. This will help you understand how privacy will be handled in the future. 

Stay up-to-date with other state privacy laws by subscribing to our State of the States blog.

Be prepared for privacy compliance by starting with a Truyo demo.