New Oregon Consumer Privacy Act Gives Power Back to the People
Historically, most Americans have little control over their private data, but the new Oregon Consumer Privacy Act has changed that by giving power back to the people.
Keep Personal Information LOCKED
In terms of the new Privacy Act, Oregonians can now protect their personal information by keeping it L.O.C.K.E.D:
- List – ask businesses for a list of third parties that bought their private data.
- Opt-out by disallowing business enterprises to sell, profile, and use advertising targeted to personal information.
- Copy – obtain a copy of personal and sensitive data held by businesses.
- Know the scope of personal information collected.
- Edit any inaccuracies shown by the data.
- Delete personal and sensitive information.
344 Consumers Took Part in the Survey
A survey of 344 consumers about attitudes on privacy and perceptions of the new Oregon Consumer Privacy Act that became effective at the beginning of July 2024, was undertaken by the Department of Justice (DOJ).
The survey found that 80% of the respondents were concerned about privacy, particularly regarding information about children. Few respondents were aware of the new Consumer Privacy Act to help them keep private information hidden from prying eyes.
The survey also found that more than one-third of the respondents had experienced a data breach of their private information in the last year, while more than a quarter experienced acts of fraud on their bank accounts.
New Restrictions Imposed on Businesses
But that should all change with the Oregon Consumer Privacy Act which imposes new restrictions on the collection of personal data by businesses.
The Oregon Attorney General, Ellen Rosenblum urges businesses to become acquainted with the new Consumer Act on how the law expects those that qualify to treat customer data,
Special protections to protect the privacy of children and teens are also addressed in the new Consumer Act.
Rosenblum says parents and caregivers should pay special attention to protections for children under 13. The Attorney General focused her initiative as president of the National Association of Attorneys General this year on the online protection of America’s youth.
Sources & References
- Oregon Department of Justice press release
- State-Wide Privacy Survey – https://www.doj.state.or.us/wp…
- Consumer Privacy – https://www.doj.state.or.us/consumer…