Global Privacy & Security Compliance Law Blog

Category Archives: Privacy

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Takeaways From Hong Kong PCPD’s 2021-22 Annual Report

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data of Hong Kong summarised enforcement trends and plans to further amend the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance. By Kieran Donovan and Jacqueline Van On 9 November 2022, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data of Hong Kong (Commissioner) published its annual report titled “A New … Continue Reading

Hong Kong’s Anti-Doxxing Laws — the State of Enforcement One Year On

Amended data privacy legislation enabled Hong Kong courts to convict doxxing offences, though their ability to enforce cessation notices remains unclear. By Kieran Donovan and Jacqueline Van In October 2021, Hong Kong amended its data privacy law, the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (Cap. 486) (PDPO), to criminalise “doxxing” (generally defined as publicly providing personally identifiable … Continue Reading

Saudi Arabia Issues Amended Data Protection Law for Consultation

The amendment proposes business-friendly changes regarding data localization and legitimate interests. By Brian Meenagh and Lucy Tucker On November 20, 2022, the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) published an amended version of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (KSA or the Kingdom) Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) for consultation (the Amended Draft). The Amended Draft … Continue Reading

The European Health Data Space — Panacea or Poison Pill?

The proposal provides a uniform basis for secondary research and clarifies uncertainty over implementation and interpretation of the GDPR but also raises many questions. By Oliver Mobasser and Gail Crawford On 3 May 2022, the European Commission launched its proposal for a Regulation for the European Health Data Space to “unleash the full potential of … Continue Reading

Advocate General: No Compensation for Mere Upset Caused by GDPR Infringement

The Advocate General opined that data subjects must prove that they suffered damage from a GDPR breach in order to claim compensation. By Tim Wybitul, Isabelle Brams, Lara Nonninger, and Hayley Pizzey Article 82 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) states that any person who has suffered material or non-material damage as a result … Continue Reading

Hong Kong Issues Guidance on Recommended Data Security Measures

The guidance outlines steps that organizations should take to enhance data security as hybrid working and learning introduce new risks. By Kieran Donovan and Malika Sajdik On August 30, 2022, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data of Hong Kong (PCPD) issued a Guidance Note on Data Security Measures for Information and Communications … Continue Reading

Privacy Enhancing Technologies — A Panacea for Data Protection Compliance?

The Information Commissioner’s Office published draft guidance on privacy enhancing technologies that can be used to comply with privacy-by-design requirements. By Gail Crawford, Fiona Maclean, Irina Vasile, and Amy Smyth On 7 September 2022, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) published a draft guidance on privacy-enhancing technologies (Draft Guidance) in which it explains what privacy enhancing … Continue Reading

CCPA Will Now Fully Regulate Personnel and B2B Information

Businesses will need to take additional steps to ensure compliance as exemptions under the California Consumer Privacy Act expire at the end of 2022. By Robert Blamires, Michael H. Rubin, Robert W. Brown, and Jennifer Howes The California legislature adjourned its 2022 session without extending the exemptions under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) for … Continue Reading

California Attorney General’s Office Announces First Public CCPA Enforcement Action

Aggressive enforcement may be on the horizon now that businesses have had more than two years to comply with California’s landmark privacy law. By Michael Rubin, Joseph Hansen, Robert Brown, Max Mazzelli, and Wesley Tiu On August 25, 2022, the California Office of the Attorney General (OAG) announced that it had settled a complaint against … Continue Reading

EDPB Emphasizes “Dissuasive” Fines in New Draft Guidelines on GDPR Fine Calculation

The EDPB sets out relevant steps and factors that EU supervisory authorities should consider when calculating administrative fines under the GDPR. By Gail Crawford, Ian Felstead, James Lloyd, Tim Wybitul, Irina Vasile, Sami Qureshi, and Amy Smyth On 16 May 2022, the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) adopted draft Guidelines 04/2022 on the calculation of … Continue Reading

Cyber Risk in Finance: A Q&A With Latham Partners

The evolution of cybersecurity-related representations and warranties in M&A transaction documentation has had an impact on financing transactions. Major M&A transactions and IPOs have become the target of increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks, in some cases affecting thousands of companies along the supply chain. Regulators have responded with stepped-up enforcement, extending their reach not just to victim … Continue Reading

Utah Consumer Privacy Act: Fourth US State Enacts Comprehensive Data Privacy Legislation

Utah enacts data privacy legislation in the mold of California, Colorado, and Virginia, but with less onerous requirements for businesses, in what is expected to be a model for more states going forward. By Jennifer Archie, Michael Rubin, Joseph Hansen, and Wesley Tiu On March 24, 2022, Utah Governor Spencer Cox signed the Utah Consumer … Continue Reading

CNIL Publishes White Paper on Digital Payments and Data Privacy

The French Data Protection Authority’s white paper discusses how companies can comply with data privacy and security obligations. By Christian F. McDermott, Myria Saarinen, Calum Docherty, Charlotte Guerin, Jiou (Alex) Park, and Amy Smyth The use of card, contactless, and innovative digital payment solutions has significantly increased in recent years, fueled by the immediate impacts … Continue Reading

China Introduces First Comprehensive Legislation on Personal Information Protection

The Personal Information Protection Law, or PIPL, imposes stringent obligations of a similar standard to the GDPR and will take effect on November 1, 2021. By Hui Xu, Kieran Donovan, and Bianca Lee On August 20, 2021, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress adopted the Personal Information Protection Law of the People’s Republic … Continue Reading

China Issues New Regulations to Protect the Critical Information Infrastructure

The regulations aim to protect the security of the CII and impose more compliance obligations in support of the Network Security Law. By Hui Xu and Kieran Donovan On July 30, 2021, the State Council of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) published the Security Protection Regulations on the Critical Information Infrastructure (the Regulations), which … Continue Reading

UAE Decision on Health Data Law Provides Clarity

The decision will likely provide comfort to businesses operating in the healthcare sector both in the UAE and globally. By Brian A. Meenagh and Avinash Balendran On 28 April 2021 the United Arab Emirates (UAE) federal government issued Ministerial Decision No. 51 of 2021 (the Decision) to clarify when health information may be stored or … Continue Reading

Privacy Group Launches Cookie Complaints Campaign Against EU Website Operators Based on Its Interpretation of Cookie Rules

The privacy organisation noyb will file more than 10,000 complaints for use of cookies contrary to its interpretation of compliance. By Gail Crawford, Myria Saarinen, Tim Wybitul, Wolf Boehm, Charlotte Guerin, and Amy Smyth On 31 May 2021, the nonprofit privacy organisation noyb (short for “none of your business”) launched a large-scale campaign to combat … Continue Reading

Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act: Second US State Passes Comprehensive Data Privacy Legislation

The Act represents an accelerating trend among US states to attempt to pass comprehensive privacy legislation in the wake of the CCPA. By Jennifer C. Archie, Michael H. Rubin, Marissa R. Boynton, and Alexander L. Stout On March 2, 2021, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam signed comprehensive state privacy legislation titled the Consumer Data Protection Act … Continue Reading

FTC Chair Rebecca Slaughter Outlines Data Privacy Enforcement Agenda

Slaughter discusses the FTC’s priorities under the new administration, including ed-tech, health apps, and racial equity. By Jennifer Archie, Michael Rubin, Marissa Boynton, and Jimmy Smith On February 10, 2021, in her first major speech as acting chair of the Federal Trade Commission (the Commission, or the FTC), Rebecca Slaughter discussed the Commission’s enforcement priorities under … Continue Reading

Data Protection Brexit Checklist: Businesses Can Rely on Personal Data Transfer Grace Period

As the Brexit transition period draws to a close, businesses will need to consider their data protection efforts to comply with both UK and EU regimes. By Gail Crawford, Fiona Maclean, and Amy Smyth The end of the Brexit transition period on 31 December 2020 will have several data protection consequences. The impact of one … Continue Reading

CNIL Issues Fines Totaling €135 Million in Landmark ePrivacy Directive Cases

The French data protection authority’s decisions cite violations of the cookie rules under the ePrivacy Directive and provide important insights on explicit consent. By Gail Crawford, Myria Saarinen, Tim Wybitul, and Wolf-Tassilo Böhm Between December 2019 and May 2020, the French data protection authority (CNIL) conducted multiple online investigations by visiting google.fr and amazon.fr, before … Continue Reading

The EDPB’s Draft Data Transfer Guidance Following Schrems II – A Close Look

The EDPB takes a strict approach in its recent guidance on international data transfers following Schrems II, posing a difficult challenge for businesses. By Gail Crawford, Ian Felstead, Fiona Maclean, Serrin Turner, Tim Wybitul, Victoria Wan and Amy Smyth On 10 November, the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) released its much anticipated draft guidance on … Continue Reading

Privacy and Payments: New Draft EU Advice for Financial Institutions

As contactless transactions boom, EU regulators publish draft guidelines on the interplay between the GDPR and PSD2. By Fiona M. Maclean, Christian F. McDermott, Calum Docherty, and Amy Smyth Last year, more than half of all payments in the UK were made by card and contactless methods, while cash made up less than a quarter … Continue Reading

CJEU Invalidates EU-US Privacy Shield

A ruling by the EU’s top court invalidates the key mechanism for transferring personal data from the EU to the US and imposes additional conditions for use of the standard contractual clauses. By Gail E. Crawford, Fiona M. Maclean, Michael H. Rubin, Ulrich Wuermeling, Calum Docherty, and Amy Smyth On 16 July 2020, the Court of … Continue Reading
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