Privacy Laws
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23andMe Data Breach Settlement Approved: $46.75 Million Final Order Explained
A bankruptcy judge approved the $46.75M 23andMe data breach settlement on July 6, 2026. Here is what the payout tiers mean and how distribution works.

23andMe Pays $18 Million to 42 State Attorneys General Over Its Genetic Data Breach
A coalition of 42 state attorneys general secured an $18 million settlement with 23andMe over its 2023 genetic data breach. The money goes to the states, not a new consumer payout.

47 U.S.C. § 227 (TCPA) Explained: Robocalls & Texts
Plain-English guide to 47 U.S.C. § 227, the TCPA: what robocall, text, and fax rules require, the autodialer definition after Duguid, and lawsuit damages.
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ACLU Sues Concord NH Housing Authority Over In-Unit Sensors
ACLU sues a NH housing authority over sensors installed in roughly 300 public housing units. What the newly filed complaint alleges and what state law says.

Alabama License Plate Reader Laws (2026)
Alabama ALPR law: Code 41-9-621 and Admin. Code ch. 265-X-6 set purpose limits, a no-sale rule, 5-year retention and ALEA audits for police.

Alabama Surveillance Camera Laws (2026 Guide)
Alabama surveillance camera laws: home security, workplace cameras, neighbor disputes, audio recording rules.

Alaska License Plate Reader Laws (2026)
Alaska has no license plate reader statute. What we searched, how the Public Records Act and constitution apply, and what is pending.

Alaska Surveillance Camera Laws (2026 Guide)
Alaska surveillance camera laws for homes, workplaces, nanny cams, and neighbor disputes. Covers AS 11.61.123 voyeurism and AS 42.20.310 audio recording rules.

Amazon Ring Sued Over "Familiar Faces" Facial Recognition (2026)
A Virginia man's June 2026 class action (No. 2:26-cv-01887, W.D. Wash.) alleges Amazon Ring's Familiar Faces feature scans biometric faceprints of non-users without consent.

Anonymous Payment Methods: Can you pay someone incognito?
Cash and prepaid gift cards are the most anonymous ways to pay someone. See how PayPal, Cash App, crypto, and masked cards compare on privacy and legal risk.

Arizona License Plate Reader Laws (2026)
Arizona ALPR law: A.R.S. 44-7953 bars vendors from selling camera data; State v. Sidor, public records, 2026 bills that died, and local Flock decisions.

Arizona Surveillance Camera Laws (2026 Guide)
Arizona surveillance camera laws: home security, workplace cameras, neighbor disputes, audio recording rules.

Arkansas License Plate Reader Laws (2026)
Arkansas ALPR law: who may use plate readers, 60- and 150-day retention limits, sharing bans, and enforcement after Act 668 of 2025.

Arkansas Surveillance Camera Laws (2026 Guide)
Arkansas surveillance camera laws: home security, workplace cameras, neighbor disputes, audio recording rules.
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Biometric Privacy Laws by State (2026): BIPA, CUBI & Consent
Biometric privacy laws by state. Which states have biometric data laws like Illinois BIPA, Texas CUBI, and Washington, plus consent rules and your rights.
BIPA Compliance for Employers (2026): Step-by-Step
BIPA compliance for employers using fingerprint or face-scan timeclocks: the seven Section 15 steps, plus a free self-check tool. Avoid the most common violations.
BIPA Damages: What a Violation Is Worth (2026)
BIPA damages explained: the $1,000 and $5,000 statutory amounts, why the 2024 amendment ended per-scan math, and what people actually receive in settlements.
BIPA Explained: Illinois Biometric Privacy Act (740 ILCS 14)
BIPA, the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (740 ILCS 14), explained: consent rules, the $1,000 to $5,000 penalties, key cases, and the 2024 amendment.
BIPA Statute of Limitations: The 5-Year Deadline (2026)
The BIPA statute of limitations is five years for all claims, settled by Tims v. Black Horse Carriers (2023). How the deadline works and when the clock starts.
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California AB 1709 Bars Addictive Features for Users Under 16
California AB 1709, approved September 10, 2026 and chaptered as Chapter 183, bars addictive features for California users under 16 starting January 1, 2027.

California Court Splits on Hospital Tracking Pixel Class Ruling
Doe v. Adventist Health System/West, published August 24, 2026, affirms part and reverses part of a CIPA and CMIA class certification denial.

California License Plate Reader (ALPR) Laws (2026)
California ALPR law explained: operator privacy policies, public-agency limits, CHP 60-day cap, court rulings, and how to check local systems.

California Pixel-Wiretap Rulings Split the Same Week: Blue Shield Claim Dismissed, BlueChew Claims Advance
Two N.D. Cal. rulings in July 2026 split on website tracking-pixel wiretap claims: the federal Wiretap Act claim against Blue Shield was dismissed with leave to amend, while state wiretap claims against Google and Meta over BlueChew trackers advanced.

California SB 1247: The Sharenting Bill That Lets Kids Delete Their Parents' Content
California SB 1247 lets children featured in monetized content demand deletion at 18. $3,000/day fines for non-compliant parents. Hearing April 6, 2026.

California SB 690 Signed: CIPA Pen Register Suits AG-Only in 2027
Newsom signed SB 690 on Sept 30, 2026 (Ch. 976). From Jan 1, 2027 only the AG may bring CIPA pen register claims against private actors over website conduct.

California Settles 23andMe Claims for $6 Million and a Five-Year Data Bar on the Estate
California's $6.01 million 23andMe settlement, filed October 19, 2026 and pending court approval, would end two appeals and bar the wind-down estate from collecting consumer data for five years.

California Sues 23andMe's Successor Over Genetic Data Breach (2026)
California AG Rob Bonta sued Chrome Holding Co. (formerly 23andMe) on May 28, 2026 over the 2023 genetic data breach affecting nearly 7 million people, invoking GIPA and the CCPA.

California Surveillance Camera Laws: Complete 2026 Guide
California surveillance camera laws explained. Learn rules for home security cameras, hidden cameras, audio recording consent, workplace surveillance, and penalties.

Capital Health $4.5M Data Breach Settlement Gets Final Approval; Payments Next
A federal judge granted final approval on July 14, 2026 to the $4.5M Capital Health data breach settlement. The claim window closed April 6, 2026; approved payments follow after appeals.

Children's Online Privacy Laws by State (2026)
State-by-state guide to children's online privacy laws beyond COPPA, covering California AADC, Utah SB 152, Texas HB 18, Florida HB 3, and age verification requirements.

Colorado License Plate Reader Laws (2026)
Colorado has no dedicated ALPR statute. See the 2026 SB 26-152 carve-out, the unsettled retention question, two failed bills, and local decisions.

Colorado Signs Device-Level Age-Check Law (SB26-051)
Colorado Gov. Polis signed SB26-051 on June 3, 2026, moving online age checks to the device operating system. It takes effect January 1, 2028.

Colorado Surveillance Camera Laws (2026 Guide)
Colorado surveillance camera laws: home security, workplace cameras, neighbor disputes, audio recording rules.

Concora Credit TCPA Settlement: October 19, 2026 Claim Deadline
The claim, exclusion and objection deadline in the Concora Credit TCPA settlement is October 19, 2026. Preliminary approval only; final approval has not been granted.

Connecticut License Plate Reader (ALPR) Laws (2026)
Connecticut ALPR law under Public Act 26-14: permitted uses, 21-day retention, sharing limits, FOIA rules, remedies, and the October 1, 2026 start.

Connecticut Requires Facial-Recognition Signs (PA 26-64)
Connecticut's Public Act 26-64, signed May 27, 2026, requires signs at entrances where businesses use facial recognition for security. Here is what it does.

Connecticut Surveillance Camera Laws (2026 Guide)
Connecticut surveillance camera laws explained: workplace notice requirements (CGS 31-48d), audio consent rules, voyeurism penalties, and home camera guidelines.

Connecticut Surveillance Pricing Law Delayed to July 1, 2027; Genetic Data Rules Took Effect October 1, 2026
Connecticut's surveillance pricing ban was repealed before its October 1, 2026 start date. The surviving version, PA 26-130 Section 11, begins July 1, 2027.

COPPA Compliance Guide: Children's Online Privacy Protection (2026)
Complete guide to COPPA compliance: parental consent requirements, FTC enforcement actions, safe harbor programs, penalties up to $50,120 per violation, and pending legislation.

Court Holds OPM DOGE Access Unlawful, Rejects Ultra Vires Claim, No Remedy Yet
A federal judge held OPM's grant of DOGE access to records on tens of millions of federal workers violated the Privacy Act. No remedy has been ordered yet.
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D.C. License Plate Reader (ALPR) Laws (2026)
D.C. ALPR rules explained: what D.C. Code 50-2443 does, the temporary Law 26-120, MPD's 90-day General Order, public records, and local Flock records.

Dashboard Camera Legality and Privacy Laws: Is It Illegal to Use Dashcams in North America?
It is not illegal to use dashcams in the US and Canada. State and provincial laws determine where you can mount one and who may use the footage.

DEFIANCE Act: Deepfake Porn Victims Can Sue for $150K+
Deepfake porn victims can now sue creators under the DEFIANCE Act for $150,000+ per violation. Senate passed S.1837 unanimously January 2026; House vote pending.

Delaware License Plate Reader Laws (2026)
Delaware has no license plate reader statute. What the Code search found, the plate-blocking ban, FOIA, and immigration-cooperation limits.

Delaware Surveillance Camera Laws (2026 Guide)
Delaware surveillance camera laws: home security, workplace cameras, neighbor disputes, audio recording rules.

District of Columbia Surveillance Camera Laws (2026 Guide)
District of Columbia surveillance camera laws: home security, workplace cameras, neighbor disputes, audio recording rules.
Do You Have a BIPA Claim? Check Your Eligibility (2026)
Do you have a BIPA claim? Use our free checker. You may qualify if a private company in Illinois scanned your fingerprint or face without written consent.

Don't Steal This Book: 10,000 Authors Publish Empty Novel to Protest AI Copyright Theft
Nearly 10,000 authors published an empty book protesting AI copyright theft. Plus: the $3B+ Anthropic lawsuit and UK copyright reversal.
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Employer Guide to Wearable Recording Device Policies (2026)
How employers can create lawful wearable recording device policies. NLRB compliance, BIPA, ADA accommodations, state monitoring laws, and policy templates for smart glasses and AI recorders.
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Facial Recognition Laws: Police Use & State Rules (2026)
Facial recognition laws for US police and government use: the federal gap, state rules from Virginia to Maine, and a state and city restriction tracker.

FCC Adopts New TCPA Consent Revocation Rule: Informational Opt-Outs Narrow, Telemarketing Revoke-All Stays
The FCC's new TCPA consent revocation rule narrows opt-outs for informational robocalls, keeps revoke-all for telemarketing, and is not yet in effect.

Federal Judge Blocks Nebraska's Social Media Age-Verification Law on First Amendment Grounds
A federal judge granted a preliminary injunction on June 27, 2026 blocking Nebraska's LB 383 social media age-verification and parental-consent mandates on First Amendment grounds.

Federal Judge Upholds New York's Social Media Disclosure Law
A federal district court dismissed X Corp.'s challenge to New York's social media disclosure law, finding it survives First Amendment and Section 230 review.

FISA Section 702 Lapses for the First Time After House Vote (2026)
FISA Section 702 lapsed June 12, 2026 after the House rejected an extension 198 to 218. Why warrantless surveillance continues anyway, and what 50 U.S.C. 1881a does.

Five California Privacy Bills: Four Signed Into Law, One Vetoed
Five California privacy, recording and workplace surveillance bills are enrolled and awaiting the Governor's action. None is law as of September 24, 2026.

Florida License Plate Reader Laws (2026)
Florida has no general ALPR statute. See 316.0777, the 2026 FDOT permit revocation, retention, and public records rules for plate reader data.

Florida Man Sues Police Over Facial Recognition Arrest (2026)
The ACLU alleges Florida police wrongly arrested Robert Dillon on a 93% facial recognition match. What the June 2026 lawsuit claims and what the law requires.

Florida Sues TikTok Under HB3 Social Media Minors Law (2026)
Florida AG James Uthmeier sued TikTok on June 15, 2026 under HB3, Florida's social media minors law, seeking a public-nuisance ruling and per-violation penalties.

Florida Surveillance Camera Laws (2026 Guide)
Florida surveillance camera laws: home security, workplace cameras, neighbor disputes, audio recording rules.

FTC Finalizes Order Against Illuminate Over Student Data Breach (2026)
On June 5, 2026, the FTC finalized a consent order against ed-tech firm Illuminate Education over a breach exposing 10.1 million students data, mandating deletion and security but no fine.