Another Data Privacy Law? Colorado Enacts the Colorado Privacy ActColorado became the third state to enact comprehensive data privacy legislation when Gov. Jared Polis signed the Colorado Privacy Act (CPA) on July 8, 2021. The CPA shares similarities with its stateside predecessors, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), the California Privacy Rights Enforcement Act (CPRA), and the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (VCDPA), as

Energy and Infrastructure Companies Need to Know about the DOE’s and Other Agencies’ Focus on CybersecurityOn March 18, 2021, the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER) announced three new research programs that are “designed to safeguard and protect the U.S. energy system” from potential cyberattacks. The DOE also announced a 100-day plan to address cybersecurity risks to the U.S. electric system. Not to

Executive Order on Cybersecurity Sets Aggressive TimelineThe Colonial Pipeline cyberattack prompted the issuance of a long-awaited executive order (EO) on improving U.S. cybersecurity. The EO mandates that, within six months, all federal agencies implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) and both at-rest and in-transit encryption. It also calls for agencies to comprehensively log, share, and analyze information about cyber incidents and creates a

Florida Legislature Considers Sweeping Data-Privacy Legislation Supported by GovernorFlorida has joined the wave of states considering new comprehensive data privacy legislation. On February 15, 2021, Rep. Fiona McFarland introduced HB 969, modeled after the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). The bill is supported by Gov. Ron DeSantis and the speaker of the Florida House. As introduced, HB 969 would apply to for-profit businesses

FTC Eyes Vendor Oversight in Safeguards Rule SettlementOn December 15, 2020, the FTC announced a proposed settlement with Ascension Data & Analytics, LLC, a mortgage industry analytics company, related to alleged violations of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act’s (GLBA) Safeguards Rule. In particular, the FTC claimed that Ascension Data & Analytics’ vendor, OpticsML, left “tens of thousands of consumers[’]” sensitive personal information exposed “to