Data Privacy And Security: An Overview And Best Practices For In-House Counsel

Understanding Data Privacy and Security Regulations

Data privacy laws exist to protect consumers by legislating how entities collect, use, and store personal information. The need for such legislation is obvious in our digital world. Yet securing—and managing—your company's compliance can be a monumental task, particularly given the lack of any comprehensive federal law in this area. Instead, companies must navigate the complicated patchwork of sector-specific federal regulations as well as various levels of state and local regulation. Further complicating the matter is the fact that a company may not only be subject to data privacy regulations where the company is located, but in all locales where its consumers may be found. Regardless of the complexity of the landscape, companies in the United States are nevertheless held accountable for implementing clear policies related to the handling of such data, ensuring the data collected and used is legitimately relevant