Top Six Major Privacy Enforcement Trends: A U.S. Legislation Retrospective
Enforcement activity intensifies as U.S. consumer privacy laws continue to evolve and come into effect. In 2023 and 2024 alone, there have been dozens of enforcement actions at the U.S. federal and state levels, some of which reveal or touch on significant throughlines for privacy policy issues, such as what constitutes a privacy violation or […]
The World’s First Binding Treaty on Artificial Intelligence, Human Rights, Democracy, and the Rule of Law: Regulation of AI in Broad Strokes
The Council of Europe’s (CoE) Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy, and the Rule of Law (Framework Convention on AI) was adopted on 17 May 2024, after two years of drafting and negotiation. This is the world’s first binding treaty on AI, focusing on protecting human rights, democracy and the rule of […]
The North Star State Joins the State Privacy Law Constellation
On May 19, 2024, the Minnesota Legislature passed HF 4757, an omnibus budget bill that includes the Minnesota Consumer Data Privacy Act (MNCDPA). The bill now heads to Governor Walz for signature. Developed by State Representative Steve Elkins over nearly five years and multiple legislative sessions, the MNCDPA is among the strongest iterations of the […]
Now, On the Internet, Will Everyone Know if You’re a Child?
With help from Laquan Bates, Policy Intern for Youth and Education How Knowledge Standards Have Changed the Status Quo As minors increasingly spend time online, lawmakers continue to introduce legislation to enhance the privacy and safety of kids’ and teens’ online experiences beyond the existing Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) framework. Proposals have proliferated […]
Keith sonderling headshot
WASHINGTON – Keith E. Sonderling was sworn in today as Commissioner of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced this morning. Sonderling was nominated by President Trump on July 17, 2019, re-nominated on March 16, 2020, and was confirmed on September 22, 2020 by a Senate vote of 52-41 to serve as Commissioner, for a term expiring July 1, 2024. Sonderling was also designated by President Trump to serve as Vice Chair of the Commission. Sonderling joins Chair Janet Dhillon and Commissioners Charlotte A. Burrows and Victoria A. Lipnic on the presidentially appointed bipartisan Commission. One vacancy remains on the Commission. “I am pleased to welcome Mr. Sonderling to this vitally important agency,” said EEOC Chair Janet Dhillon. “His vast experience with labor and employment issues, including his most recent accomplishments with the U.S. Department of Labor promise an ideally suited and valuable asset to the EEOC. I look forward to working with Keith, and my other colleagues on the Commission, to continue to promote equal opportunity for all.” Prior to his appointment to the EEOC, Sonderling served as the Deputy Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor. He previously served as the Acting Administrator. The Wage and Hour Division administers and enforces Federal labor laws including the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, and the labor provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Prior to joining the administration in 2017, he practiced labor and employment law at the Florida-based Gunster Law Firm. He received his B.S., magna cum laude, from the University of Florida and his J.D., magna cum laude, from Nova Southeastern University. “I am humbled and honored to serve as a Commissioner of the EEOC, and to be entrusted with a position where I can continue to work to prevent and remedy workplace discrimination and to advance the rights of the American workforce. I arrive
New Age-Appropriate Design Code Framework Takes Hold in Maryland
On April 6, the Maryland legislature passed HB 603/SB 571, the “Maryland Age-Appropriate Design Code Act” (Maryland AADC), which is currently awaiting action from Governor Moore. While FPF has already written about Maryland’s potentially “paradigm-shifting” state comprehensive privacy law, the Maryland AADC may similarly pioneer a new model for other states. The Maryland AADC seeks […]
Manipulative and Deceptive Design: New Challenges in Immersive Environments
With help from Selin Fidan, Beth Do, Daniel Berrick, and Angela Guo Immersive technologies like spatial computing, gaming, and extended reality (XR) offer exciting ways to experience and engage with the world. However, interfaces for immersive technologies that further blur the lines between the physical and the virtual may also open the door to new, […]
The Old Line State Does Something New on Privacy
On April 6, the Maryland Senate concurred with House amendments to SB 541, the Maryland Online Data Privacy Act (MODPA), sending the bill to Governor Moore for signature. If enacted, MODPA could be a paradigm-shifting addition to the state privacy law landscape. While recent state comprehensive privacy laws generally have added to the existing landscape […]