On November 1, the New York Department of Financial Services (“DFS” or the “Agency”) announced finalized amendments to its Cybersecurity Regulation applicable to DFS-regulated entities.[1] The finalized amendments to the Cybersecurity Regulation (the “Amendments”) contain significant revisions designed to mandate preventative measures to address common attack vectors and enhance cybersecurity governance, bringing more formality and uniformity to the assessment and mitigation of a covered entity’s specific cybersecurity risks.[2] The Amendments may also portend future changes to cybersecurity regulations outside of DFS, as the original DFS Cybersecurity Regulation influenced many existing cybersecurity requirements in other areas of the law. Continue Reading New York Department of Financial Services Finalizes Amendments to Cybersecurity Regulation
United States
California Passes Delete Act Creating More Accountability for Data Brokers
Continuing to pave the way for enhanced privacy rights for California consumers, on October 10, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law S.B. 262, colloquially known as the California Delete Act (the “Delete Act” or the “Act”)). [1] The Delete Act is the first of its kind in the United States, providing California-based consumers with a more streamlined, user-friendly way to request deletion of their personal information from data brokers. Continue Reading California Passes Delete Act Creating More Accountability for Data Brokers
Broad Definition of Sensitive Data and Concern for Children’s and Teenagers’ Data in Delaware Privacy Law Reflect Recent Trends in Evolving Data Protection Landscape
On September 11, Delaware’s governor signed into law the Delaware Personal Data Privacy Act (the “DPDPA” or “Act”),[1] establishing Delaware as the 12th state in the U.S. to enact its own comprehensive data protection law and contributing to the patchwork of U.S. data protection regimes that continue to proliferate in the absence of federal regulation. Continue Reading Broad Definition of Sensitive Data and Concern for Children’s and Teenagers’ Data in Delaware Privacy Law Reflect Recent Trends in Evolving Data Protection Landscape
New SEC Disclosure Rules for Cybersecurity Incidents and Governance and Key Takeaways
On July 26, 2023, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC” or “Commission”) adopted rules to enhance and standardize disclosure requirements related to cybersecurity incident reporting and cybersecurity risk management, strategy, and governance.Continue Reading New SEC Disclosure Rules for Cybersecurity Incidents and Governance and Key Takeaways
EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework
On July 10, 2023, the European Commission officially adopted its adequacy decision for the new EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework (“DPF”), concluding that the U.S. ensures an adequate level of protection for personal data transferred from the EU to U.S. organisations participating in the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework.[1] This allows EU organizations to freely transfer personal data that is subject to the GDPR to participating organizations in the U.S.Continue Reading EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework
SEC Proposes Rules Limiting the Use of Artificial Intelligence by Registered Investment Advisers and Broker-Dealers
On July 26, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) proposed new rules targeting the use of predictive data analytics and artificial intelligence (“AI”) by registered investment advisers (“RIAs”) and broker-dealers.[1] The new proposed rules focus on the potential for conflicts of interest and the possibility that newer, more complex analytics models (including those using AI) might optimize decision making for RIAs and broker-dealers by placing those firms’ interests above the interests of their clients.[2] The proposed rules would require RIAs and broker-dealers to: (i) evaluate whether their use of technologies “that optimize for, predict, forecast or direct investment-related behaviors or outcomes” create such a conflict of interest, and (ii) either stop using or address the effects of tools that place a firm’s interests before the interests of clients. RIAs and broker-dealers will also will be required to adopt policies to ensure compliance with the new proposed rules.[3] Continue Reading SEC Proposes Rules Limiting the Use of Artificial Intelligence by Registered Investment Advisers and Broker-Dealers
Determining Applicability of Newly Enacted Comprehensive U.S. Privacy Laws
In recent weeks, six states, Florida (effective July 1, 2024)[1], Texas (effective July 1, 2024)[2], Montana (effective October 1, 2024)[3], Iowa (effective January 1, 2025)[4], Tennessee (effective July 1, 2025)[5] and Indiana (effective January 1, 2026)[6], have passed consumer privacy laws, adding to the growing list of states with comprehensive privacy legislation alongside California, Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut and Utah. In the ever-changing landscape of privacy compliance, it is more critical and complicated than ever for businesses to be able to determine which state privacy laws may apply to their business.Continue Reading Determining Applicability of Newly Enacted Comprehensive U.S. Privacy Laws
Recent Developments In Data Privacy Enforcement In Brazil And A Comparison With The U.S. Regime
The Brazilian General Data Protection Law (the “LGPD”—Lei Geral de Proteção de Dados)[1] came into effect in September 2020. Given the LGPD’s relatively recent adoption, there has been uncertainty surrounding how public authorities and courts in Brazil will interpret and apply the law. On February 27, 2023, the Brazilian national data protection authority (the “ANPD” Autoridade Nacional de Proteção de Dados) addressed some of this uncertainty when it issued sanctioning guidelines for the LGPD (the “Sanctioning Guidelines”).[2] The Sanctioning Guidelines offer insight into the types of sanctions companies may face and the factors the ANDP will consider when imposing such sanctions.Continue Reading Recent Developments In Data Privacy Enforcement In Brazil And A Comparison With The U.S. Regime
Iowa Becomes the Sixth State to Enact a Comprehensive Privacy Law
Following the lead of California, Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut and Utah (as previously discussed here, here, here, here and here respectively), on March 29, 2023, Iowa passed the Iowa Consumer Privacy Act (the “ICPA”), creating compliance obligations for businesses that collect and process personal data of Iowa residents and providing such residents more control over their data. The ICPA will go into effect on January 1st, 2025.Continue Reading Iowa Becomes the Sixth State to Enact a Comprehensive Privacy Law
SEC Charges Public Company For Alleged Misleading Disclosures Surrounding Ransomware Attack
On March 9, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) brought an enforcement action against a public company, Blackbaud Inc. (“Blackbaud” or the “Company”), alleging that it had made misleading disclosures about a 2020 ransomware attack.[1] This is the fourth SEC settled enforcement action concerning disclosures following a cyberattack.[2] This development highlights increased regulatory scrutiny that public companies face related to cyberattacks and serves as a potential prelude to the SEC’s aggressiveness in enforcing its upcoming revised rules on cybersecurity incident disclosures. Continue Reading SEC Charges Public Company For Alleged Misleading Disclosures Surrounding Ransomware Attack