Can I prioritize privacy compliance to gain a competitive advantage, reduce the possibility of regulatory issues, and help secure valuable partnerships in Connecticut? What are the requirements?

Privacy Compliance in Connecticut

Yes, prioritizing privacy compliance can provide a competitive advantage, reduce the possibility of regulatory issues, and help secure valuable partnerships in Connecticut. Connecticut has specific laws and regulations in place to protect personal information, such as the Safeguarding of Personal Information Act ^[2.1].

Requirements for Privacy Compliance

To comply with Connecticut’s privacy laws, businesses must safeguard personal information, including Social Security numbers, and create a privacy protection policy ^[2.1]. Additionally, businesses must comply with consumers’ rights to access, correct, and delete their personal data, as well as opt-out of certain types of data processing ^[1.1].

To ensure compliance, businesses must establish a process for consumers to exercise their rights and respond to requests in a timely manner ^[1.1]. Businesses must also provide public notice of procurement processes and publish evaluation and selection criteria ^[3.1].

Starting July 1, 2023, controllers must limit the collection of personal data to what is adequate, relevant and reasonably necessary in relation to the purposes for which such data is processed, as disclosed to the consumer. They must also establish, implement and maintain reasonable administrative, technical and physical data security practices to protect the confidentiality, integrity and accessibility of personal data appropriate to the volume and nature of the personal data at issue. Controllers must not process sensitive data concerning a consumer without obtaining the consumer’s consent, or, in the case of the processing of sensitive data concerning a known child, without processing such data in accordance with COPPA. They must not process personal data in violation of the laws of this state and federal laws that prohibit unlawful discrimination against consumers. Controllers must provide an effective mechanism for a consumer to revoke the consumer’s consent under this section that is at least as easy as the mechanism by which the consumer provided the consumer’s consent and, upon revocation of such consent, cease to process the data as soon as practicable, but not later than fifteen days after the receipt of such request. Controllers must not process the personal data of a consumer for purposes of targeted advertising, or sell the consumer’s personal data without the consumer’s consent, under circumstances where a controller has actual knowledge, and wilfully disregards, that the consumer is at least thirteen years of age but younger than sixteen years of age. A controller shall not discriminate against a consumer for exercising any of the consumer rights contained in sections 42-515 to 42-525, inclusive, including denying goods or services, charging different prices or rates for goods or services or providing a different level of quality of goods or services to the consumer ^[1.2].

A controller shall provide consumers with a reasonably accessible, clear and meaningful privacy notice that includes the categories of personal data processed by the controller, the purpose for processing personal data, how consumers may exercise their consumer rights, including how a consumer may appeal a controller’s decision with regard to the consumer’s request, the categories of personal data that the controller shares with third parties, if any, the categories of third parties, if any, with which the controller shares personal data, and an active electronic mail address or other online mechanism that the consumer may use to contact the controller. If a controller sells personal data to third parties or processes personal data for targeted advertising, the controller shall clearly and conspicuously disclose such processing, as well as the manner in which a consumer may exercise the right to opt out of such processing ^[1.2].

Conclusion

Prioritizing privacy compliance can provide numerous benefits for businesses operating in Connecticut. To comply with Connecticut’s privacy laws, businesses must safeguard personal information, create a privacy protection policy, and comply with consumers’ rights to access, correct, and delete their personal data. Additionally, businesses must establish a process for consumers to exercise their rights and respond to requests in a timely manner. Starting July 1, 2023, controllers must limit the collection of personal data, establish, implement and maintain reasonable administrative, technical and physical data security practices, and provide an effective mechanism for a consumer to revoke the consumer’s consent. They must also provide a clear and meaningful privacy notice and disclose any processing of personal data for targeted advertising or sale of personal data to third parties ^[1.2][2.1].

Source(s):

• [1.1] (Note: This section is effective July 1, 2023.) Consumers’ rights. Compliance by Controllers. Appeals.
• [1.2] (Note: This section is effective July 1, 2023.) Controllers’ duties. Sale of personal data to third parties. Notice and disclosure to consumers. Consumer opt-out.
• [2.1] Safeguarding of personal information. Social Security numbers. Privacy protection policy. Civil penalty.
• [3.1] Competitive procurement process; requirements. Stipend for unsuccessful proposer. Department authority to retain consultants.

Jurisdiction

Connecticut

• Privacy