Alan Butler Executive Director and President | Official website
Privacy advocacy groups have long sought the inclusion of data minimization in state privacy statutes. However, states considering and passing legislation in recent years showed reluctance or little appetite to go through with minimization.
Caitriona Fitzgerald, Deputy Director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center, expressed the significance of recent developments in state privacy laws, stating, "It’s a real game-changer for consumers because it takes the onus off them to protect their privacy and instead requires companies to look at their data collection practices and change them to better meet consumer expectations."
A joint report by EPIC and the U.S. Public Interest Research Groups Education Fund evaluated the strength of state privacy laws, with only three states receiving better than a “C” grade, while six states were graded “F” based on specific criteria. Fitzgerald noted that many state laws are similar, stating, "Most (state laws) are copycats of each other, but especially the ones recently passed."
Fitzgerald also highlighted the progressive stance taken by Maryland legislators, stating, "It was really encouraging to see Maryland legislators say ‘No, this is not enough.’ It’s not enough to say companies can put whatever they want in privacy policies. Instead, they said companies need to look at the context of the interactions they’re having with the consumer and the collection necessary for that."
Maryland's approach to addressing privacy concerns signifies a new dimension in the evolving landscape of state privacy laws in the United States.
