Navigating the New Data Privacy Landscape

Over the last two years, the way we live and work has changed dramatically. As the world moved into various stages of lockdown, we became more reliant on digital platforms for everything from work meetings to grocery shopping to hanging out with friends. This increased online presence has given rise to significant concerns about the data we leave behind and how the companies we interact with protect our privacy.

Is your organization collecting information like email addresses, phone numbers, credit card numbers, or other sensitive data? It is very likely that at some point your organization is obtaining at least one of these items that is considered personally identifiable information (PII) and you are responsible for protecting that information.

A Pew Research Institute study found that only about one-third of adults say they understand current data protection laws. According to another Pew study, 75% of Americans strongly favor more government regulation of consumer data. As the concern among Americans grows many states are taking steps to help people protect their PII.

In 2022, 34 states and the District of Columbia have consumer privacy bills in process with their legislatures. California, Colorado, Virginia, Utah, and most recently, Connecticut have already passed laws defining businesses’ responsibility in storage and protection of PII.

The requirements for protecting PII and the consequences of a breach vary from state to state. Until there is a comprehensive privacy law passed at the federal level, companies must ensure compliance across multiple jurisdictions. Even if your organization is not located in a state with a privacy law on the books, it may still be subject to the rules through business or customer nexus.

An experienced data protection consultant can help you navigate the complexities of protecting PII and staying in compliance everywhere you are or want to be doing business. The Clark Schaefer Consulting team can evaluate your current privacy program and ensure that you are complying with applicable regulations, and most importantly, keeping your company and your clients safe. Contact us today to learn more.