All businesses are concerned with whether their revenue and custom will continue during a crisis. When their services (more importantly those involving technology) depend on the use of third party suppliers, businesses should also think about their own ability to deliver. Questions that business managers will be agonising over during a crisis include: Will our … Continue Reading
In a world where we have been ordered to stay home and shelter in place to combat the spread of COVID-10 our children are now learning remotely. While it is fortunate that technology allows students to continue the school year at home, remote learning presents an obstacle where children’s privacy is concerned. In the United … Continue Reading
On March 26, 2020, amendments to Washington, D.C.’s data breach notification law were enacted in bill number B23-0215. Put briefly, the amendments impose various prevention, response, and mitigation obligations on businesses regarding data breaches that affect D.C. residents. Below is a summary of the key changes of which businesses should be aware.… Continue Reading
On March 17, 2020, the federal government relaxed a number of telehealth-related regulatory requirements due to COVID-19. On April 3, 2020, California Governor Gavin Newsom issued Executive Order N-43-20 (the Order), which relaxes various telehealth reporting requirements, penalties, and enforcements otherwise imposed under state laws, including those associated with unauthorized access and disclosure of personal … Continue Reading
As the U.S. economy and educational system adapt to work and life at home, it is important to remember that cybersecurity (and related privacy) risks remain and are evolving. Remembering to think through measures that are in place to protect personal information, proprietary information, confidential information, and information needed for ongoing operations can help businesses … Continue Reading
In a matter of three days, Parliament passed a bill granting emergency powers to the government to deal with the COVID-19 outbreak. The Queen granted Royal Assent on 25 March 2020, bringing into force the Coronavirus Act 2020 (the Act) (the Act). The Act, amongst other things, gives the government wide-ranging powers to restrict events … Continue Reading
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (the TCPA) restricts telemarketing and the use of automated telephone equipment for phone calls, faxes, and text messages. The TCPA provides a private right of action and significant statutory penalties, and therefore is an area of significant risk for any company that communicates with its customers, particularly by phone or … Continue Reading
As businesses and individuals across the globe struggle to adapt to a new normal of remote work and social distancing due to the COVID-19 (a/k/a novel coronavirus) pandemic, they should also be aware of a number of U.S. data privacy and data security implications arising from these changes. In addition, businesses must be cognizant of … Continue Reading
Since March 11, when the World Health Organization (WHO) officially categorised the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as a pandemic, it has become clear that the world is immensely struggling with the outbreak. It has even led to a massive slowdown in economic activity, causing volatility and turbulence in the financial markets. Therefore, apart from being a … Continue Reading
European countries have pursued the project of creating a Unitary Patent and a Unified Patent Court (UPC), since the early seventies. Success seemed within reach in 2013 when the international Agreement on a Unified Patent Court (UPCA) was concluded and subsequently ratified by several states. However, in 2017 the project came to a grinding halt … Continue Reading
The current outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is causing the world to struggle. It is clear that coronavirus is a threat to all human beings. It has also become clear that coronavirus is a threat to the health of the world economy and businesses. On March 11, 2020 the World Health Organization (WHO) characterized the … Continue Reading
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released companion interoperability and information blocking final rules that will significantly impact the way in which certain health care providers, health information technology (IT) developers, and health plans share patient information. For a discussion on major provisions of these rules, please read our post on our … Continue Reading
Since coming into effect in 2014, Singapore’s personal data protection law has been active enforcing the law since its passing. The law applies to all organizations operating in Singapore, regardless of their size and the nature of their business. Companies that employ personnel in Singapore must take note of how Singapore data protection law applies … Continue Reading
On March 10, 2020, Vermont Attorney General T.J. Donovan initiated an enforcement action based on Vermont’s new data broker law against Clearview AI, Inc. Vermont’s data broker law, which became effective January 1, 2019, governs data brokers, which it defines as companies that collect and sell or license to third parties the personal information of … Continue Reading
Last week, on March 11, the California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General (AG) released its second set of revisions to its draft regulations under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). This second set of proposed revisions is based in part on comments received in response to an initial set of proposed revisions … Continue Reading
On January 30, 2020, The World Health Organization (WHO) declared that the outbreak of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is a “public health emergency of international concern.” This was, in part, an acknowledgement of the geographic spread of the virus and the need for intensified support for preparation and response, especially in vulnerable countries and regions. Further … Continue Reading
On March 2, 2020, Reed Smith and the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) presented a panel discussion on 2020 privacy laws and trends featuring Attorney General Christopher Carr of Georgia; Linda Holleran Kopp of the Bureau of Consumer Protection, Division of Privacy and Identity Protection of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC); and Oriana Senatore, … Continue Reading
Although the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) specifically precludes private lawsuits except for those resulting from certain data breaches, that has not stopped at least one plaintiff from bringing a putative class action based on an alleged CCPA violation. A proposed class action was filed on February 27, 2020, in the Southern District of California … Continue Reading
The onslaught of privacy regulations has impacted every industry and, while it seems that no industry can be flat footed – from auto manufacturers to ecommerce platforms – one in particular has had to remain especially nimble: the advertising technology (Adtech) industry. The Adtech industry has struggled with privacy regulations, including the CCPA, but it … Continue Reading
As currently drafted, the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”) leaves many questions unresolved regarding how the law applies to data collected and used in the health care and life sciences industries, particularly in the research context. Clinical research sponsors and other industry participants have raised concerns about how the CCPA may impede care delivery and … Continue Reading
A trio of consumer data privacy bills modeled after Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has been introduced in the Wisconsin State Assembly. The three bills, collectively dubbed the Wisconsin Data Privacy Act (WDPA), were sponsored by Republican State Representative Shannon Zimmerman, who is seeking to make Wisconsin “the most consumer-friendly state in our nation … Continue Reading
On July 20, 2019 the German tax court for the federal states of Berlin and Brandenburg published the first decision of a German tax court on the qualification of “bitcoins” in a provisional legal protection procedure. The court confirmed that a bitcoin qualifies as an “asset” for German taxation and (tax) accounting purposes. At the … Continue Reading
Companies have been challenged with respect to their cookie policies and their implementation due to the entry into force of the GDPR earlier than the proposed ePrivacy Regulation Given the delay in the adoption of an EU-wide regulation on e-privacy, national data protection authorities have taken the initiative in publishing guidelines on cookies requirements. The … Continue Reading
The public spoke and the California Attorney General (AG) listened. Nearly four months after releasing initial proposed CCPA regulations, the California AG has issued a revised draft addressing many of the comments and concerns of both industry and privacy attorneys. Although the structure and fundamental principles have not changed, the revisions will impact most CCPA … Continue Reading
