The Ministry of Justice is running two consultation exercises in tandem concerning proposals to amend the Data Protection Act. The first proposal is to introduce custodial sentences of up to two years for data protection offences; the second proposal is to introduce new civil penalties, with an upper limit fine of £0.5m, for serious breaches…
Category: Breach Laws
Nevada and New Hampshire Data Security and Privacy Laws Take Effect
Hunton & Williams LLP write: On January 1, 2010, two important state data security and privacy laws took effect in Nevada and New Hampshire. The laws create new obligations for most companies that do business in Nevada and for health care providers and business associates in New Hampshire. Nevada’s law requires “data collectors,” including government…
ICO publishes guide to Data Protection Act
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has produced a new plain English Guide to Data Protection to provide businesses and organizations with practical advice about the Data Protection Act and dispel myths. The guide will help organizations safeguard personal data and comply with the law. The guide takes a straight-forward look at the principles of the…
Massachusetts Data Security Regulations Final Amendments Released
Tanya Forsheit reports: As we noted earlier this week, Massachusetts indicated late last week it would issue its last round of amendments to its data security regulations scheduled to take effect March 1, 2010, 201 CMR 17.00. The last round of amendments are not particularly significant, although it is worth noting that, contrary to the…
Accountants Want Out from New Identity Theft Rules, Just Like Lawyers
Jordan Weissmann writes: Fresh off the American Bar Association’s success fending off the application of new anti-identity theft regulations to lawyers, a trade group representing certified public accountants has filed its own lawsuit over the rules. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, represented by Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson partners Daniel Loeb and…
Federal Data Security Law: ‘Careful What You Wish For’
Bill Brenner writes: A federal cybersecurity law edged closer to reality late last week when the Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill to protect the personal data of Americans. The bill is a bipartisan effort sponsored by Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and co-sponsored by former Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, that would, among other things, force…