Plenty to Celebrate on Data Privacy Day

As we ring in Data Privacy Day 2024, we salute privacy professionals around the world for all the hard work they do ­– and for the fortitude they will summon to navigate the next year. New laws, fast-changing technology and revved-up regulators are all in store. Among the latest developments, President Biden is reportedly about to issue an executive order aimed at preventing foreign governments and entities from accessing Americans’ personal data.

Buckle up and embrace the adventure!

We noted this week that privacy principles like notice and transparency have stayed the same over the decades, but regulators have found new angles in the past year for policing companies, like the FTC’s push on AI fairness. Google’s recent settlement and ongoing litigation highlight tracking risks, and our guest article series on tracking technologies examines the legal landscape and will guide companies on understanding how the technology works and compliance strategies.

Data protection related to AI will preoccupy the privacy world in 2024, bringing a wave of effort on certification, due diligence, terms of use for AI tools and a 258‑page draft of the E.U. AI Act that emerged this week. The rising focus on AI contract provisions reminds us of the activity with privacy policies a few years ago when the GDPR and CCPA took effect.

We can’t forget new laws and regulatory guidance. New Hampshire and New Jersey kicked off the year by passing new comprehensive privacy laws, and several more U.S. states are slated to join the party. State laws that were previously introduced – in Florida, Tennessee, Texas and Oregon – will soon take effect.

We look forward to continuing to offer expert analysis and actionable recommendations and insights on all of these developments for our readers. Please keep sending us tips and coverage suggestions, as well as your feedback and guest article proposals.

Happy Data Privacy Day!  

Jill Abitbol, Editor-in-Chief

Matt Fleischer-Black, Senior Reporter