It addresses electronic record keeping and state compliance could cost a business up to $3,000 upfront, plus $500 a month for a small business employing 10 people, with three laptops, seven desktops and one network server.
Never give a government authority information you do not want to be made public because if you do, it may be publicized without advance notice. State data protection policy is driven by regulations and lobbyists. In today's economy, States get creative about using assets. Third party publishers send streams of revenue to States providing access to their data stores.
When and if the new law takes effect every business handling Massachusetts residents’ personal data must: Build firewalls and encrypt data whenever it is transmitted or stored on portable devices; Develop a security program, designate an employee to manage it, and discipline employee violators; Train employees regarding security, and on and on… These are just some of the requirements reported by Mass High Tech Times online.
Its about how you electronically handle “personal information.”
The new law defines personal information as follows:
“Personal information,” a Massachusetts resident’s first name and last name or first initial and last name in combination with any one or more of the following data elements that relate to such resident: (a) Social Security number; (b) driver’s license number or state-issued identification card number; or (c) financial account number, or credit or debit card number, with or without any required security code, access code, personal identification number or password, that would permit access to a resident’s financial account; provided, however, that “Personal information” shall not include information that is lawfully obtained from publicly available information, or from federal, state or local government records lawfully made available to the general public.
The Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation administers 201 CMR 17.00. Read their
web site to see the entire law as written.
Business groups have spoken up about it. Legislators have been encouraged to delay its effective date at the time of this writing.
sources for this article include:
http://www.masshightech.com
MASS HIGH TECH, the Journal of New England Technology
the
digitalPlumbers.org
providing free BOSTON IT help desk online
The AboutBlackBoston.com blog