Maine House Passes What Would Be Toughest US Data Privacy Law

On a 71-68 vote the Maine House yesterday sent LD 1822 - "An Act to Enact the Maine Online Data Privacy Act" - on to the Senate, where a vote could be taken as early as Tuesday next week.

If this bill becomes law it will go further than any state data privacy law now in effect to limit the use of consumers' personal data in marketing.

Internet companies controlling or processing personal data of 35,000 or more Maine consumers would fall under the jurisdiction of the Act.

On top of the rights given to consumers in existing laws of other states, the Maine act would give consumers the right to obtain a list of all third parties to whom their personal data have been provided.

Consumers would also have the right to opt out of the use of their personal data for certain purposes including targeted advertising, selling, and profiling to be used to support automated processes which can produce legal or other significant effects for the consumer.

Furthermore the Act would permit the Maine Attorney General to proceed with enforcement actions against data controllers and processors without advance notice or an opportunity to make corrections.

If this Act would harm your business in any way, get on the phone to your State Senator and Representative before Tuesday please..