Massachusetts Senate Passes Landmark Data Privacy Act Unanimously

The Massachusetts Senate has unanimously passed the Data Privacy Act (S 2619) with a vote of 40-0, sending the legislation to the House for consideration. This significant bill aims to enhance personal data protection for residents, establishing clear rights regarding data collection and usage.

The Data Privacy Act grants Massachusetts residents the right to know what personal information is being collected and allows them to opt out of having their data used for targeted advertising or sold to third parties. It covers a wide range of sensitive information, including health care records, biometric data like face scans and fingerprints, precise geolocation, religious or ethnic identity, immigration status, and information related to minors.

Key provisions of the bill include:

– The right for individuals to access their collected data and understand with whom it has been shared.
– New rights enabling individuals to correct inaccurate data, delete personal information, and opt out of data sales.
– Empowerment of the Office of the Attorney General with broad regulatory authority to enforce the new protections.
– Limitations on companies to collect only the data necessary to provide their products or services.

Additionally, the bill strictly prohibits the sale of minors’ personal data, banning targeted advertising aimed at this vulnerable demographic.

Senate Majority Leader Cindy Creem expressed her enthusiasm for the bill’s passage, stating, “This bill positions Massachusetts to have among the strongest data privacy laws in the country and makes it clear that our personal data can no longer be profited from without transparency and accountability to Massachusetts consumers.”

Senator Mike Moore, Chair of the Committee on Advanced Information Technology, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that individuals should have control over their own data. “Big tech companies make billions of dollars selling your personal data without giving you any say in what information they collect or how they use it,” he said. “The Massachusetts Data Privacy Act returns the power of choice back to the people because your data belongs to you.”

Organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts have also welcomed the legislation. Executive Director Carol Rose stated, “Massachusetts urgently needs strong privacy laws to prohibit companies from collecting or manipulating our personal information in ways that threaten our safety, discriminate against us or otherwise threaten our most essential rights.”

The Senate’s swift action on this bill is seen as a response to increasing concerns over data privacy in an era dominated by digital technology.

Financial Relief and Other Legislative Measures

In addition to the Data Privacy Act, the Senate also addressed funding for critical services. Governor Maura Healey signed a supplemental budget into law that allocates $234 million for financial relief to hospitals and community health centers across the state. This budget aims to ensure essential funding for facilities that care for uninsured and underinsured residents, with $199 million designated specifically for acute care hospitals.

The budget includes $122 million in targeted payments to facilities serving low-income patients, as well as $77 million to the Health Safety Net Trust Fund, which aids in reimbursing hospitals and health centers for care provided to uninsured individuals. Governor Healey remarked, “This package is a step forward in maintaining our world-class health care ecosystem.”

Other legislative actions discussed include a bill to require that at least 5 percent of seating in restaurants be armchairs, aimed at improving accessibility for the elderly and physically impaired. Additionally, a proposal calling for a special commission to study financial relationships between Massachusetts entities and companies owned by the Chinese government was also examined, emphasizing the need for transparency in investment practices.

As Massachusetts grapples with these legislative changes, the focus remains on protecting residents’ rights and ensuring that vital services remain accessible during challenging economic times.