The update to the existing Massachusetts data breach notification statute (set to go into effect on April 11, 2019) introduces novel requirements for notices to both affected individuals and regulators and requires credit monitoring services to be offered in some instances for at least 18 months. The legislation updates the statute in a number of particulars, but we focus here on the most notable new requirements.

Notable updates

Notices to affected individuals. The updated statute may require an organization to provide affected individuals with multiple (that is, repeat) notifications if after the initial notice the organization discovers information that updates or corrects the information required to be in such notifications. Other breach notification laws, like the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation and Canada’s breach notification law, may impose an ongoing obligation on organizations to notify regulators with updated information about breaches, but the Massachusetts statute may apply that same obligation to individual notices. The statute also sets forth additional content categories that the notices must contain.Continue Reading Notable challenges from the updated Massachusetts data breach notification law