As the economy hints at recovery entering the latter half of 2023, some practice areas within the legal sector are experiencing a steady or modest increase in hiring. Despite law firms over-hiring in 2021, which caused decreased productivity particularly among junior associates, an increase in deal activities in certain corporate sectors is fueling demand for…
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) expanded its advisory portfolio on August 22, 2023, by issuing four more advisories pertinent to industrial control systems. Offering guidance applicable to different industrial control products, these dispatches detail the risks inherent to each vulnerability and provide suggestions for mitigating these susceptibilities. A successful exploitation could compromises the…
In light of recent legal news, Advocate Aurora Health, a major player in America’s healthcare sector, has agreed to pay an eye-catching $12.25 million to settle a class action lawsuit resulting from a large-scale data breach. Through the use of tracking pixels on their website to monitor visitor activity, Advocate Aurora Health unintentionally compromised the…
In the complex and ever-changing landscape of global data privacy, multinational corporations are facing new challenges and regulations. Some recent developments in the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, China, and Middle East illustrate the intricate nature of these regulations and the urgent need for companies to stay informed and compliant. The United States in…
In a recent advancement within the AI legal landscape, a D.C. federal judge has ruled that AI-generated artwork cannot be copyrighted. The Verge reports that the plaintiff, Stephen Thaler, utilized his own algorithm to create the debated artwork, further blurring the line between artist and AI. Renowned firm ArentFox Schiff recently issued a comprehensive legal…
In recent years, a rise of privacy laws at state level in the U.S. has been filling the gap that is left by the continued absence of a comprehensive federal privacy law. This has brought a new layer of complexity for businesses trying to navigate this changing landscape, as reported in JDSupra. These state consumer…
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, one could imagine the surprise among many, learning that HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), doesn’t give broad protection for all health-related data. This acknowledgment spurred conversations among lawmakers, leading to some states passing statutes designed to protect consumer health data. Nevada has recently joined other states,…
The role of artificial intelligence (AI) in our everyday lives cannot be overstated. Applications such as Siri, facial recognition, navigation systems, search recommendations and advertisement algorithms have become so commonplace, we often take them for granted. These traditional AI systems, while integral to our daily routines, represent a fundamental, somewhat narrow aspect of AI’s real…
In the dynamic world of data incidents, there is a common understanding that not all data incidents are created equal. In fact, a data incident does not automatically translate into a data breach. A recent article published on JD Supra by Troutman Pepper augments this idea. ‘Data Protection: One of These Incidents Is Not Like…
State privacy legislation in the U.S. is experiencing quite an overhaul. According to JD Supra, there are seven new state laws focusing on privacy that have been enacted, ready to take effect in the coming years. The updates to these laws demonstrate recognition and a proactive response to the rapid pace at which the spectrum…
The workplace landscape is shifting at a rapid pace for U.S. multinational employers as the data protection laws of various global jurisdictions evolve. One key addition to the landscape, augmenting the protocol for these employers, is India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDA). The DPDA secured presidential assent on August 11, 2023, making India…
In the current digital age, we are seeing an interesting interplay between federal contractors and social media platforms (SPMs). While these platforms can offer entertainment and social connection, they can also pose unique legal challenges, particularly for federal contractors. Notably, in late 2022, as part of a larger budget bill, Congress passed the ‘No TikTok…
In the rapidly evolving landscape of cybersecurity, poses a significant threat to small and large businesses alike, an area of particular concern to professionals in legal fields. This issue was recently highlighted in a presentation given at the IRS’ National Tax Preparers Forum, an advanced session focusing on the ways threat actors are constantly innovating…
Biometric Information Privacy is becoming a topic of increasing interest in legal circles across the United States, with Missouri standing among the latest states to propose legislation in this domain. The Missouri legislature took the first steps in this direction earlier this year with the suggestion of its own Biometric Information Privacy Act (HB 1047)….
Montana Attorney General, Austin Knudsen, is mounting a defensive campaign in support of a recently enacted Montana statute. This new state law places significant restrictions on TikTok, the popular social media platform, irrespective of its wide recognition for its entertaining short-form videos cherished across the globe. The law specifically obstructs TikTok’s operation within the state,…
Over the past half-decade, an uptick in lawsuits asserting claims under the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) has been noticed in the State of Illinois. In particular, around 1,500 such legal actions have been initiated. The BIPA, at its core, prescribes regulations for the collection, use, and handling of biometric identifiers by private entities…
In a dynamic move to stay ahead of the rapid changes in the digital world, Google Workspace will soon implement comprehensive updates aimed at enhancing data collection. Set to be revealed in a webinar on August 30, these new measures promise to streamline the process of aggregate data retrieval. By integrating these updates, professionals in…
The New York State Senate is deliberating on an important bill that, if passed, could lead to significant changes in the way employers and employment agencies carry out electronic monitoring of employees and the use of Automated Employment Decision Tools (AEDTs). The bill was introduced on August 4, 2023. The bill plans to place restrictions…
Experts have issued a stern warning to technology organisations about the potential for misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) in voice cloning and deepfakes, highlighting a plethora of legal concerns. As AI makes significant strides, it sparks thrilling prospects for domains such as tech companies while simultaneously posing severe threats. Nowadays, exploiting recent advancements in machine…
In an interesting turn of events, some of the judges appointed during President Trump’s tenure have been cited for disregarding Supreme Court decisions. Their judgements particularly affect minority groups, raising fresh questions about judicial impartiality. You can read the detailed analysis of this situation in an article by Slate. Furthermore, the advancement in AI technology…
In a recent notable decision, a federal judge in Maryland rejected a bid by home health care supplier AdaptHealth to dismiss Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) claims. The defendant allegedly made unsolicited calls and texts to a plaintiff’s cellphone. The judge’s decision is in alignment with a growing consensus in courts that mobile phones should…
Chicago law firm, Mandell Menkes, is facing litigation over allegations of biometric privacy rights infringement. A former legal secretary of the firm has filed the lawsuit in Illinois Circuit Court. The contention lies in the firm’s deployment of a fingerprint-scanning time clock system, which allegedly holds and utilises personal biometric identifiers of its employees. The…
Over the summer, several lawsuits have been filed against OpenAI on grounds of privacy violation and copyright infringement. The allegations suggest that the company used several copyrighted works while developing their large language models. These litigations are considered to be the first among many that will likely emerge, and it’s unlikely that OpenAI’s large language…
Law firms today face a critical decision: to embrace or ban the use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI). The debate is fuelled by concerns and anticipation about the evolving role of AI in legal processes. One law firm partner recently admitted to banning the use of ChatGPT in their firm, a decision that might not…
Last week a local newspaper in Kansas, The Marion Record, was raided by local police, leading to a significant outcry from civil rights advocates, journalists, and legal professionals across the country. In a turn of events that should alarm anyone concerned with the balance of power between the press and law enforcement, the Marion County…