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Recently, we analyzed amendments to California’s data protection laws that will come into effect on January 1, 2015.
On October 23, 2014, New Jersey’s Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee approved legislation intended to ensure consumers are immediately informed of any data breach that may involve their personal information. The bill, if passed, would require businesses or any other entity storing personal information to maintain an online account which would disclose any breach of private information. Specifically, the online account would inform consumers if their Social Security numbers, addresses, driver’s license numbers or any other private information has been compromised in a data breach. This legislation was modeled after a measure that was adopted in California earlier this year.
In support of the bill, Assemblyman Troy Singleton (D-Burlington) stated: “Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the country…and…what we have learned from the recent security breaches at major retailers is that they can happen to anywhere and to virtually any company, large or small. It is essential for consumers to be kept informed of data breaches so that they can take the necessary steps to protect their information.”