Summary: A recent report indicates that nearly half of state consumer privacy laws do not adequately protect individual data, with eight out of 19 states failing assessments by advocacy groups. These laws often weaken consumer protections rather than strengthen them, and many are based on a template originally created by industry. Only Maryland and California have established strong data privacy laws, while other states lag behind.

Affected: State Consumers and Organizations

Keypoints :

• Eight out of 19 state privacy laws fail to protect individuals’ data effectively.
• Maryland and California are noted as having strong data privacy laws.
• Seventeen states received a C+ or below, indicating major gaps in consumer data protection.
• Many laws have been influenced by industry interests, undermining their intended purpose.
• Proposed strong privacy laws would limit data collection and enhance enforcement mechanisms.