Lawmakers in Maryland have proposed a new bill, the Maryland Data Privacy Act, to protect residents’ data by prohibiting police and local officials from sharing personal data or granting access to databases without a state or federal warrant.
US Consumer groups, federal employees, unions and attorneys general have been filing lawsuits to protect private data being accessed in mass quantities by Elon Musk’s DOGE group. Most cite the Privacy Act of 1974, which prohibits release of federal records without consent, and some do in conjunction with other laws, including, the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, the Federal Information Security Management Act, and the Education Department privacy statute. Requests range from stopping access to requiring deletion of data already obtained.
Australia passed the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act, in 2024 which placed responsibility for controlling children’s access to social media on providers. However, a recent study of more than 1,500 children there conducted by eSafety, indicates they can easily bypass the controls with 80% of those surveyed who were aged 8 to 12 used one or more of the eight social media services in 2024 – despite policies prohibiting users under 13.
Preliminary findings by the European Commission state that Apple and Google are in violation of the EU’s Digital Markets Act. Among the findings, Google Search is accused of prioritizing Google’s own products and services in results; Apple is instructed to improve interoperability between iOS and third-party devices. The companies now have an opportunity to respond.