Photo of Kathleen McConnell, CIPP/US

On Friday, October 17, 2025, U.S. District Court Judge Vince Chhabria issued a biting Order granting defendant Eating Recovery Center, LLC’s (“ERC”) motion for summary judgment on the plaintiff Jane Doe’s California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA) claims, a law enacted in 1967 to address the increasing use of wiretapping to eavesdrop on private phone

On June 3, 2025, the California Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 690 (SB 690), a bill that seeks to add a “commercial business purposes” exception to the California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA).

After multiple readings on the Senate floor, SB 690 passed as amended, and will now proceed to the California State Assembly. SB

On May 19, 2025, the California Senate Appropriations Committee, which handles budgetary and financial matters, held a hearing on California Senate Bill 690 (SB 690).  The proposed bill would amend the California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA) by adding an exception to the statute which has the effect of permitting use of tracking technologies for

California Senate Bill 690 (SB 690), introduced by Senator Anna Caballero, is continuing to proceed through the California state legislative process. The proposed bill would amend the California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA) by adding an exception to the statute which has the effect of permitting use of tracking technologies for “commercial business purposes.” CIPA

The California Privacy Protection Agency (“CPPA”) has made it abundantly clear: privacy compliance isn’t just about publishing the right disclosures – it’s about whether your systems actually work. On May 6, the agency fined Todd Snyder, Inc. $345,178 for failures that highlight a growing regulatory focus on execution of California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”) compliance. The action sends a powerful message: even well-resourced companies are not insulated from enforcement if they don’t actively test and manage how privacy rights are honored in practice.

Not Just Tools – Working Tools

The action against Todd Snyder was rooted in executional failure. The company had a portal in place for consumer rights requests, but it wasn’t processing opt-out submissions – a failure that lasted for roughly 40 days, according to the CPPA. The cookie banner that should have enabled consumers to opt out of cookie tracking would disappear prematurely, preventing users from completing their requests.

The company further required users to verify their identity before opting out and requested sensitive personal information, such as a photograph of their driver’s license. The CPPA determined this was not only unnecessary, but a violation in itself. The allegations around improper verification reflect concerns raised in a CPPA Enforcement Advisory issued last year, which cautioned businesses against collecting excessive information from consumers asserting their privacy rights.Continue Reading CPPA Underscores That Businesses Own CCPA Compliance – Even When Privacy Management Tools Fail

Seyfarth Synopsis: In a significant decision for website operators, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court clarified that tracking users’ web activity does not constitute illegal wiretapping under the state’s Wiretap Act. The court found that person-to-website interactions fall outside the Act’s scope, which focuses on person-to-person communications. However, the court emphasized that other privacy laws could still apply to such tracking practices. This ruling may influence how similar cases proceed nationwide and signals to the Massachusetts legislature that any broader restrictions on web tracking require explicit statutory action.Continue Reading Tracking Users’ Web Browsing Activity Does Not Constitute Illegal Wiretapping under Massachusetts Law

In today’s ever-evolving and interconnected world, trade secret protection demands proactive measures against both technological vulnerabilities and human threats. Join us for the fourth installment of our 2024 Trade Secrets Webinar Series, where our panel of seasoned trade secrets and cybersecurity attorneys will equip you with practical strategies to bolster your defenses.
Continue Reading Upcoming Webinar! Data Protection and Cybersecurity: Safeguarding Trade Secrets in the Digital Age

This just in….March 30, 2023. The California Office of Administrative Law has approved the CCPA Regulations and they are effective immediately. The text has not changed substantively since the modifications proposed late last year.

Without further ado, please read the CPPA’s announcement here.

At printing time, the final documents were to “be made available