Massachusetts law about internet and online privacy

Laws, regulations, cases, and web sources on internet and online privacy law.

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Massachusetts laws

MGL c. 4, § 7 Definition of "public record"

MGL c. 66A Fair Information Practices Act

MGL c. 93, § 106 Video rental privacy protection

MGL c. 93H Data Breach Notification Law

MGL c. 214, § 1B Right to privacy

MGL c. 214, § 3B Violations of chapter 66A; statute of limitations

MGL c. 272, § 99 Interception of wire and oral communications

Massachusetts regulations

201 CMR 17 Standards for the protection of personal information of residents of the Commonwealth

801 CMR 3 Privacy and confidentiality

Federal laws

5 U.S.C. § 552a Privacy Act

15 U.S.C. §§ 6501-6506 Children's Online Privacy Protection Act

15 U.S.C. § 6801 Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act [Privacy Rule]

18 U.S.C. § 1030 Computer Fraud and Abuse Act

18 U.S.C. §§ 2510-2523 Wiretap Act

18 U.S.C. §§ 2701-2713 Electronic Communications Privacy Act

Federal regulations

16 CFR 312 Children's online privacy protection rule

16 CFR 313 Privacy of consumer financial information

Selected cases

Selected court cases on the topic of internet and online privacy

Organizations

Data Privacy and Security Division, Mass. Attorney General.
The Data Privacy and Security Division protects consumers and their families from threats to the privacy and security of their data in the digital economy.

Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC)
1519 New Hampshire Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20036
[phone]

A public interest research center in Washington DC. Its website includes topical guides to federal legislation and privacy issues.

Federal Trade Commission's Privacy Initiative
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20580
[phone]

The website offers copies of the FTC's Online Privacy Reports to Congress and information regarding identity theft.

Web sources

AG Healey joins nationwide settlement with Google over location tracking practices, Office of the Attorney General, November 14, 2022.
A coalition of 40 attorneys general in reached a $391.5 million settlement with Google for misleading consumers about its location tracking practices. The settlement also requires Google to be more transparent with consumers about its tracking practices.

Complying with COPPA: Frequently asked questions: A guide for businesses, parents and small entities. Federal Trade Commission, July 2020 (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act).

Issues, Electronic Privacy Information Center.
Includes resources on various privacy topics, including:

• AI & human rights
• Consumer privacy
• Cybersecurity
• Data protection
• Surveillance oversight
• And more

Online privacy and security, Federal Trade Commission.
"Understanding online privacy, how to protect your devices from hackers and threats, and how to avoid common online scams."

Print sources

Computer law: A guide to cyberlaw and data privacy, Matthew Bender, loose-leaf. (eBook available with library card)

Cybersecurity law, West Academic, 2022.

Data privacy and cybersecurity law: A compliance guide for U.S. Federal, state, and local governments, Lexis Nexis, 2023.

Data security and privacy in Massachusetts, 3^rd ed., MCLE, 2021.

Global internet law in a nutshell, West Academic, 2021.
Chapter 7.

Internet law and practice, Thomson/West, loose-leaf.
Chapter 19: Internet challenges to developing privacy law.

Principles of the law, data privacy, ALI, 2020.

Last updated:	April 7, 2025