Are you storing sensitive data on a shared network drive? If so, your organization could be at serious risk of a data breach or privacy lawsuit. Shared drives, like the common “S:\ drive,” are often used to store documents, spreadsheets, customer information, financial records, and even scanned IDs. But here’s the problem: these network shares
California
Florida Data Broker Fined $46,000 by California Privacy Watchdog
In yet another reminder that California takes data privacy seriously, this month, the California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA) fined Florida-based data broker Jerico Pictures, Inc. (d/b/a National Public Data) $46,000 for failing to register under the state’s Delete Act.
The fine is the maximum allowed by law and was imposed after the company failed to…
California Cryobank Hit with Lawsuit over Sperm Donor Databank Breach
California Cryobank, LLC, the largest sperm bank in the country, faces a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California over an April 2024 data breach. Cryobank provides frozen donor sperm and specialized reproductive health care services, including egg and embryo storage.
Cryobank notified the affected individuals this month that it…
Privacy Tip #428 – Getting Text Messages From E-ZPass or Toll Road Operators? They’re Scams Coming from China
This week, I received a fake text message (a smish) saying my E-ZPass account was overdue and that I urgently needed to pay it. That’s a new one and, apparently, quite effective. Luckily, I knew it was a scam, but others were victimized.
According to the website Krebs on Security, security researchers “say the…
Neural Data Included in CCPA Amendments
As we outlined in our previous blog article, California recently became the second state to enact a law safeguarding consumer brain data, following a similar law passed by Colorado in April. Both state laws prevent the sale or unauthorized sharing of data generated by consumer neurotechnology products. Under these new state privacy laws, companies…
TikTok’s Legal Woes from State AGs Continues
Last week, we outlined the lawsuits against TikTok by New York, California, and North Carolina, that followed in the footsteps of Nebraska, Nevada (which filed suit against TikTok in February of 2024), and Indiana, which filed suit against TikTok in 2022. Since last week, at least 11 more states have joined the fray, including…
Three More States Sue TikTok Alleging Harm to Young Users
Following in the footsteps of Nebraska, the Attorneys General of North Carolina, California, and New Jersey filed complaints against TikTok and its owner, ByteDance, Ltd., on October 8, 2024.
The suits are lengthy and full of allegations against TikTok and how it is responsible for a “profound mental health crisis” of American teenagers. The…
California on the Forefront of Tackling AI Risks to Consumers
The State of California, under the leadership of Governor Gavin Newsom, has taken the lead of its sister states in mobilizing resources to investigate the risks of the use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools and develop policies addressing them.
Following in the steps of Colorado, this week, the Governor signed into law an amendment…
California Attorney General Announces Investigation of Streaming Services for CCPA Violations
Last week, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a new enforcement focus on streaming apps’ failure to comply with the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). This investigation will examine whether streaming services are complying with the opt-out requirements for businesses that sell or share consumers’ personal information as required by the CCPA. Specifically, the agency…
Criminal Charges Filed Against Drone Operator in California
Last week, a federal complaint was filed against Andrew Hernandez in federal District Court in California charging him with the unsafe operation of an unmanned aircraft (or drone). The allegations against Hernandez include hindering a police investigation of a burglary at a pharmacy. While a Los Angeles Police Department helicopter was heading to the scene…