Seen at EPIC.org:
The Senate members of the Joint Committee on Advanced IT, Cybsecurity, and the Internet have given a favorable report to a redrafted version of the Massachusetts Data Privacy Act (“MDPA”). If enacted, MDPA would be the strongest state privacy law in the nation.
The Senate Committee bill, S.2516, uses many provisions from EPIC and Consumer Reports’ model state privacy bill. It builds on existing state laws and includes data minimization provisions that meaningfully limit the collection and use of personal data. The legislation also bans the sale of sensitive data such as precise geolocation data, data about minors, and health data. MDPA also includes strong enforcement mechanisms, including a private right of action, allowing consumers to hold companies accountable for violations of the law and encouraging compliance.
MDPA also includes a data broker registry, a one-stop mechanism for Massachsuetts residents to delete their data held by data brokers, and the Location Shield Act, which would give heightened protections to precise geolocation information.
“EPIC commends Senator Michael Moore and the Senate members of the Committee for advancing a bill that, if enacted, would provide Massachusetts residents with the privacy protections they need to stay safe online,” said EPIC Deputy Director Caitriona Fitzgerald. “We urge the Senate to quickly take up the Massachusetts Data Privacy Act to put a stop to the data abuse that is harming individuals’ wallets, rights, and opportunities.”