Background – State Privacy Regulations
State privacy regulations safeguarding personal information have been established by over forty states. One of the most recent states to establish privacy regulations and security breach notification requirements is Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Privacy Regulations are the most comprehensive state regulations, and they are likely to become the model for other states. The Massachusetts Privacy Regulations require businesses and other holders of personal information to ensure that consumers’ information is kept safe. The Regulations may affect how your business protects certain confidential personal information, even if you are not located in Massachusetts.
The impetus for the Massachusetts Privacy Regulations included over 450 reported cases of stolen or lost personal information that affected nearly 700,000 Massachusetts residents during 2007-08.
