Digital Media and Data Privacy Law Blog

Suffering a data breach is bad enough. As often as it appears to happen, companies that are affected by a breach still shoulder a considerable burden. Management must stop the trains to identify the cause and scope of the breach—and then prepare for the aftermath. Lawyers are involved. The company’s brand is at risk. And the costs—employee time, legal fees, security consultants—quickly escalate.

But what if you determine that your company didn’t really need the information that was exposed? Suppose you find out that the breach involved a file that contained ... Read More 

Ed. Note: This entry is cross posted from Cady Bar the Door, David Smyth's blog offering Insight & Commentary on SEC Enforcement Actions and White Collar Crime.

We’re behind on this, but better (a little bit) late than never. Last month the SEC’s Office of Compliance, Inspections and Examinations released the first results of its Cybersecurity Examination Initiative, announced in April 2014. As part of the initiative, OCIE staff examined 57 broker-dealers and 49 investment advisers to better understand how these entities “address the legal, regulatory, and compliance ... Read More 

Last week, we posted about the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights “discussion draft” released by the Obama Administration. On Thursday, March 5, at the annual U.S. meeting of the International Association of Privacy Professionals (which I attended), FTC Commissioner Julie Brill answered questions about her take on the bill and other policy issues. Here are just a few comments from that discussion that merit a follow-up post:

• Commissioner Brill stated in no uncertain terms that the draft bill is not protective enough of consumers. At various times, she said there are ...

Late last week, President Obama released a “discussion draft” of the Administration’s long awaited Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights Act.  At first blush, the results are a mixed bag:  some good, some not so good, much work among stakeholders left to be done.

It didn’t take long for consumer advocates, and even one FTC Commissioner, to say the draft legislation doesn’t go far enough.  The Internet has been rife with posts this week about the bill’s problems and shortcomings.  In summary, for most, the bill landed like a lead balloon.

Still, the Administration released the bill as ... Read More