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 Stored Communications 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)
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
Provides 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 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, 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

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."

Searching and seizing computers and obtaining electronic evidence in criminal investigations (PDF), DOJ (2009)
Prepared by the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, Criminal Division of the Department of Justice, this manual provides a wealth of information on federal and constitutional law and its application to electronic evidence, surveillance, search and seizure, and the Stored Communications Act.

Print sources

The ABA cybersecurity handbook: Cybersecurity, its legal implications, and the emerging risks of AI, 4^th ed., American Bar Association, 2026. (eBook available with library card)

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, LexisNexis, annual.

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

Global internet law in a nutshell, West Academic, 2021.
Chapter 7: Internet-related privacy.

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

Last updated:	July 15, 2026