Log in or register
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 30 SEPTEMBER 2025

REMINDER: Maryland Data Protection Law Comes Into Effect On October 1st

Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP
Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP
Contributor
Explore more from Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP

Well over a dozen U.S. states now have omnibus data protection laws in effect. On October 1, 2025, Maryland will join their ranks with the Maryland Online Data Privacy Act (the "MODPA").

United StatesPrivacy
Lucas J. Schaetzel
Lucas J. Schaetzel
Author LinkedIn connections

Key Takeaways

  • Maryland's new data protection law, the Maryland Online Data Privacy Act (MODPA), takes effect October 1, 2025, and introduces stricter requirements for processing personal and sensitive data, especially for minors, compared to other state laws.
  • Businesses should care because MODPA imposes heightened restrictions and prohibitions on the use of sensitive data and data of individuals under 18, increasing compliance obligations (beyond what is common under other U.S. state data protection laws) and the risk of enforcement actions by the Maryland Attorney General.
  • To prepare, businesses operating in Maryland should review and update their data collection, processing, and privacy practices to ensure they only process data that is strictly necessary for requested products or services, obtain opt-in consent for sensitive data, and implement robust consumer rights request procedures.

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

View source

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

SB 54 Is In Effect: What California’s New Packaging Law Means For Your Business

Although being challenged by an injunction filed on August 20, 2026, by a coalition of 17 states, California’s SB 54 Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act is now in effect, and companies that sell, distribute, import, or ship packaged products into California should be evaluating whether they have compliance obligations.
United StatesPrivacy
Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP
Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP
Article

California’s 2026 Legislative Session Wraps: A Wave Of Privacy And AI Bills Reaches The Governor, With Key Child Safety And AI Measures Signed Into Law

California's 2026 legislative session concluded with Governor Newsom signing several landmark privacy and AI bills into law, including comprehensive child safety measures, AI auditor oversight frameworks, and expanded data protection requirements. How will these new regulations reshape digital advertising, workplace AI deployment, and online platform obligations for businesses operating in California?
United StatesPrivacy
Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
Article

California's Fall 2026 Privacy Roundup: Expanded CCPA Deletion Rights And More

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed several significant privacy bills that will reshape how businesses handle consumer data, including expanded deletion rights under the CCPA, shortened data broker response cycles, and sweeping new insurance sector privacy requirements. While one landmark bill banning the sale of sensitive personal information was vetoed, the approved legislation requires companies to update their deletion workflows...
United StatesPrivacy
McDermott Will & Schulte
McDermott Will & Schulte
Article

Eleventh Circuit Developments: Decisions On Florida And Georgia Social Media/Minor Laws And New Alabama Law

Legal risk intensifies for companies offering online interactive features to minors across Georgia, Florida, and Alabama as the Eleventh Circuit vacates preliminary injunctions against state social media laws. With Florida's HB 3 and Georgia's SB 351 now enforceable and Alabama's HB 161 set to take effect January 1, 2027, businesses face divergent compliance requirements including age verification, parental consent mechanisms, and account deletion protocols.
United StatesPrivacy
Taft, Stettinius & Hollister LLP
Taft, Stettinius & Hollister LLP
Article

The Data Breach Brief: Week Of September 30th, 2026

Multiple organizations have recently disclosed significant data breaches affecting thousands of individuals, with compromised information ranging from basic contact details to highly sensitive medical records and financial data. The incidents span various sectors including healthcare, insurance, and professional services, raising questions about the scope of exposure and potential remedies for affected individuals.
United StatesPrivacy
Morgan & Morgan
Morgan & Morgan
Article

FMCSA MOTUS Implementation – Common Motor Carrier Concerns

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration launched MOTUS in May 2026, replacing legacy registration platforms and fundamentally changing how motor carriers, freight brokers, and surface freight forwarders handle operating authority applications and license maintenance. While designed to combat fraud and streamline registration activities, the transition has created significant user experience challenges that threaten operating authority status and customer relationships for transportation service prov
United StatesGovernment, Public Sector
Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP
Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP
Article

The Coming State-Law Litigation Wave Of 2026-27: “Subscription Trap” Class Actions

State-law class actions targeting automatic renewal and subscription practices are accelerating, creating significant litigation risk for companies that rely on recurring revenue models. Recent settlements demonstrate that even technical compliance failures can lead to seven-figure exposure, with California, Illinois, and Virginia statutes driving the most aggressive litigation.
United StatesConsumer Protection
Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP
Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP
Article

DOJ Announces 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown: 455 Defendants Charged In $6.5 Billion Enforcement Action

The Department of Justice's 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown charged 455 defendants in connection with $6.5 billion in alleged fraud schemes, marking an unprecedented scale of enforcement action. This whole-of-government approach leverages advanced data analytics and international cooperation to combat healthcare fraud across Medicare, Medicaid, and other federal programs. The enforcement action demonstrates heightened scrutiny of providers, aggressive asset forfeiture, and a focus on cases involvin
United StatesCriminal Law
Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP
Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP
Article

Emerging Enforcement Trends In Digital Health Data Privacy: Lessons From Washington’s My Health My Data, FTC vs. Hims & Hers And UCHealth Enforcement Actions

Federal and state regulators are intensifying scrutiny of healthcare and digital health companies over tracking technologies that share sensitive patient data with advertising platforms. Recent enforcement actions against major telehealth providers and healthcare systems reveal how common marketing practices can trigger significant legal liability under privacy laws, even for organizations not covered by HIPAA.
United StatesPrivacy
Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP
Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP
Article

SEC Publishes The Long-Awaited Regulation Crypto Assets Proposed Rules

The SEC has proposed Regulation Crypto Assets, its most comprehensive digital asset framework to date, establishing exemptions for startups and fundraising while introducing an Investment Contract Safe Harbor that could formally determine when crypto assets are no longer subject to securities laws. As regulators shift from enforcement-focused approaches to clearer rulemaking, agencies continue targeting fraud and misconduct, signaling that compliance remains critical even as the regulatory landscape evolves
United StatesFinance and Banking
Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP
Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP