In a noteworthy move, the Government of India has presented a new digital privacy bill to the Lok Sabha (the lower house of India’s Parliament) despite voiced apprehensions from opposition leaders. The Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2023, follows the withdrawal of a similar privacy bill from last year and has been introduced amid renewed…
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has recently initiated an investigation into OpenAI. This development isn’t trivial, since it can be considered the most robust action taken against OpenAI since the unveiling of its Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbot, ChatGPT, in November 2022. The regulatory scrutiny by the FTC intends to evaluate possible unfair or deceptive privacy…
The worlds of law and corporate affairs have seen several significant changes recently as governments and corporations alike tackle emerging and re-defined challenges in their sectors. Whilst new legislation and pivoting business transactions are a focal point of these changes, it is important for lawyers and in-house legal teams in corporations to look at the…
In a major regulatory shift, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued a final ruling, reviving an OSHA recordkeeping rule originally implemented under the Obama administration in 2016. This rule, which was subsequently rolled back by the Trump administration in 2019, involves certain classifications of employers in high-hazard industries. According to the detailed…
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently took a significant step in its ongoing efforts to enforce proper consumer data security in the telecommunications industry. The agency announced a proposed fine of $20 million targeting two affiliated mobile carrier companies for their alleged violations of FCC rules. The FCC says the companies in question failed to…
The California Privacy Protection Agency’s (CPPA) Enforcement Division has taken up the mantle of scrutinizing data privacy practices by connected vehicle manufacturers and accompanying technologies. The CPPA, a body established by the 2018 California Privacy Rights Act, is chiefly engrossed in crafting regulations. This latest probe, however, signals the expanding scope of their remit. (Robinson+Cole…
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has submitted a notice of proposed rulemaking, with the objective of expanding the Health Breach Notification Rule (HBNR) to include most health apps and similar technologies that are not governed by HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). The HBNR amendment proposition follows an effort to formalize the FTC’s Statement…
The California Attorney General’s office recently embarked on an initiative to scrutinize employer non-compliance with the California Consumer Privacy Act/California Privacy Rights Act (collectively known as the CCPA). Robinson+Cole Data Privacy + Security Insider provides an insightful look into this developing story. The CCPA, enacted in 2018, has since been a major regulatory focus for…
In a move that has garnered significant attention, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) decided to significantly lower the threshold for unions and employees who wish to challenge the validity of certain work rules. This development has come about after years of discussion regarding the pressing need for alterations in specific work rules regulations. The…
In a move signaling the continued trend towards greater responsibility and transparency in artificial intelligence (AI) deployment, several leading generative AI companies, including Meta, OpenAI, Microsoft, Google, Anthropic, and Inflection, have committed to voluntary guidelines proposed by the White House. These new guidelines aim to enhance the safety, transparency, and reliability of AI technology. As…
The recent report by Law360 brings forth fascinating insights into the current state of legal employment. According to the report, law graduates of 2022 secured employment at a higher rate than any other class dating back to 1987. This serves as an encouraging sign for both aspiring lawyers and law schools, suggesting a promising market…
Welcome to the August 2023 edition of The BR Privacy & Security Download, the digital newsletter dedicated to serving legal professionals with interest in privacy, security and data protection practices. This edition comes from the leading law firm, Blank Rome LLP. The detailed newsletter was expected to host an enlightening array of discussion points, legislative…
In the latest issue of Decoded – Technology Law Insights, an intriguing argument has been presented, positing that everyone should receive financial compensation for the data they share, which is then utilized in Generative AI platforms. This proposal confronts the traditional business model of AI companies, challenging the notion of freely available data being leveraged…
Debate continues to mount on whether or not closely held businesses should be open to making charitable donations or commitments, an issue confronting owners of such businesses across the globe. The question, as proposed in a recent publication by Rivkin Radler LLP, is far from rhetorical, urging business owners to thoroughly consider this query before…
Oregon Governor signed into law on July 27 the HB 2052, effective immediately, an Act that imposes registration requirements for data brokers. Under this regulatory provision, a “data broker” is prohibited from collecting, selling, or licensing broker personal data within Oregon unless they have registered with the Department of Consumer and Business Services first. As…
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly producing an increasing number of generative AI products that are becoming commercialized on the market. These offerings demand a balance between swift implementation, technical competencies, and significant financial and legal deliberations for corporates seeking to integrate these solutions into their existing systems. Technology providers are concurrently pushing the boundaries of…
In a high-profile case concluded in July 2023, the Court of Québec ruled against the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (the Quebec Health Insurance Board, RAMQ), citing “serious” and “systemic” violations of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. As a result of the ruling, evidence against medical specialists was excluded due their rights…
As corporations continue to understand and navigate the complexities of the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), the Pacific Coast state has introduced another layer of privacy protection targeted at its younger residents. The law in question, effectively starting July 1, 2024, is the California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act (CAADCA). According to a recent article by…
Healthcare organizations today often grapple with a significant snafu of the digital age: online reviews. These public testimonials, for better or for worse, have a massive influence on a healthcare organization’s reputation. Even a small number of dissatisfied patients can cause substantial harm with negative comments posted on social media and customer review platforms like…
The landscape of the food industry has significantly evolved over recent years, largely due to the increased usage of services such as DoorDash and Uber Eats. However, these conveniences do not come without their risks. Increasingly, scams are targeting restaurants and delivery drivers, creating a palpable cause for concern for those operating within the industry….
In a recent development, the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) released an updated Fact Sheet elucidating its viewpoint on the powers of state and local governments when it comes to regulating drone activities. This revised stance marks a crucial change in the role that different levels of governments play in drone regulation, addressing particularly the FAA’s…
Pima Community College District has instigated legal action for copyright infringement and breach of employment contract against a former instructor. The ex-teacher continued to release online unauthorized recordings of students, including minors, participating in class activities, even after refusing to erase them. The details of the complaint, which originated on Law.com Radar, were outlined on…
On June 22, 2023, the Oregon Consumer Privacy Act (OCPA), SB 619, was passed by the Oregon legislature with a nearly unanimous vote in the senate. This significant legal milestone followed four years of dedicated effort by the Attorney General’s Consumer Privacy Task Force, which was formed in response to growing calls for comprehensive consumer…
Legal professionals and corporate stakeholders have turned their attention to California as a series of significant legal updates have recently come into effect. Of particular interest is the change in enforcement start date for the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), along with two new ordinances for Los Angeles businesses. For those unaware, The CCPA imposed…
In an unexpected turn of events, The Washington Post uncovered on July 13, 2023, that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued a Civil Investigative Demand (CID)—which acts much like a pre-litigation subpoena—directed at OpenAI, LLC. This company is a renowned developer of technologies like ChatGPT and DALL-E. This surprising news has reverberated throughout the…