"It's just data. And they're collecting it
anyway."
That was my friend's casual response when I asked about the
data their smart ring was measuring—heart rate, pulse, and
other health metrics. At first glance, many consumers see data in a
one-dimensional way—just text/numbers on a screen, and they
may not give much thought to how that data is processed, shared, or
even monetized.
But what if that data is more than just numbers? What if it
qualifies as personal data, which is data linked or reasonably
linkable to an identifiable individual? This is the moment when
many consumers to take a closer look— especially when they
learn that their data could be sold to third parties.
Recognizing the risks, states across the U.S. are stepping in to
protect consumer data privacy. In this article, we
will examine the growing landscape of state-level data privacy
laws, and explore how different states are taking action to protect
their residents' personal data.
