In the News
Legislature for data privacy just took a big step forward. In District of Columbia Introduces Legislation on Data Privacy, Sydny Shepard at Security Today discusses the District of Columbia’s recent action to increase consumer data privacy through the Security Breach Protection Amendment Act of 2019. Shepard explains that this proposed legislation will increase the responsibility of companies in securing consumer data and require action if such privacy is violated. Shepard states that this legislature was influenced by the insurgence of recent data breaches and exposures.
Our Take
The introduction of data privacy legislature on the state level makes sense given the public outrage in the wake of massive and frequent data breaches and instances of data misuse. The District of Columbia is one of the first states taking the initiative to enforce stricter data privacy regulations legally. However, governing bodies outside of the US including the EU have already implemented extensive regulations for data use and privacy. These types of initiatives aim to protect the population from the dangers of data misuse. While company–specific efforts are necessary and helpful, the additional enforcement of a legal precedence for action will force all companies to prioritize customer privacy. If these types of legislature are accepted and if more and more states join in, federal privacy laws might soon take into effect as well.
Recommendations
So how can you keep your data private?
- Use safe password practices when creating online accounts, and take advantage of Multi-factor Authentication where possible
- Always make sure that you are running the most updated edition of an app or software
- Know your rights when it comes to data use and storage
- Consider supporting data privacy legislature in your state or on a federal level
- Utilize additional security/privacy measures and settings on apps, accounts, and platforms whenever possible