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Courtland Cuevas

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The rapid expansion of biometric technologies in sports has created both significant opportunities and complex legal challenges. The proliferation of wearable devices and data collection tools has ushered in what amounts to a “gold rush” for athletes, teams, universities, and companies seeking to use or commercialize biometric data. Heart rate…

Key Takeaways:

  • The Ninth Circuit court of appeals reviewed three separate proposed class actions against Papa John’s International Inc., Converse Inc., and Bloomingdale’s, all centered on whether certain website tracking activities violated the California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA).
  • The plaintiffs in these cases alleged that companies unlawfully used technologies like “session replay” software and chatbots to monitor website visitors’ interactions, intercepting their information and transmitting it to third parties without consent, thereby violating CIPA Section 631.
  • The court assessed how CIPA, an older wiretapping law, applies to modern website tracking like session replay and chatbots, focusing on definitions of “interception” and “contents.”

Key Takeaways

  • In a recent decision by the Ninth Circuit in Briskin, the court ruled that e-commerce platform Shopify purposefully directed its conduct toward California because of its nationwide operations, rejecting the need for differential targeting of a forum state.
  • Notably, the court found a direct causal nexus between Shopify’s conduct and Briskin’s claims, deeming an exercise of specific jurisdiction over Shopify in California fair and reasonable.
  • Legal scholars are concerned that the decision could broadly expand the scope of specific personal jurisdiction and increase litigation risks for online platforms.
  • Companies should reassess their data practices and anticipate forum shopping by plaintiffs following Briskin.

Key Takeaways:

  • CPPA launched its first major enforcement action in targeting connected vehicle-maker Honda.
  • Connected vehicles often collect various kinds of sensitive driver information, including geolocation, biometric and behavioral data.
  • After the CPPA found Honda in violation of several CCPA provisions, the company agreed to settle the enforcement action for approximately $650,000 while also agreeing to adopt certain remedial measures.
  • Other Connected vehicle-makers have also experienced a spike in regulatory scrutiny, signaling rising enforcement pressure and growing expectations for privacy-by-design.

Key Takeaways:

  • Ed tech company PowerSchool’s recent breach exposed the data of approximately 60 million students and 10 million educators.
  • Hacker gained access via a compromised employee password and remained undetected for nine days.
  • Sensitive personal data, including Social Security numbers and medical histories, was potentially compromised, raising a number of legal and regulatory concerns.
  • The breach underscores the urgent need for stronger third-party oversight and security requirements.

2024 marked another significant year for privacy law, with new state legislation and high-stakes litigation reshaping the landscape. Legal battles over tracking technologies, biometric data, and children’s privacy intensified, while federal agencies, including the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (“HHS OCR”), ramped up their efforts through major enforcement actions and high-profile settlements, marking a new era of increased accountability.