Texas Attorney General Forms Privacy Task Force

The Texas Attorney General’s office has recently announced the formation of a dedicated task force within its Consumer Protection Division. This task force will focus on enforcing the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act (TDPSA) and several other privacy-related laws. 

This announcement follows the recent enactment of the TDPSA, which went into effect on July 1, 2024. The TDPSA is similar to other recent data privacy acts we have recently covered, including rights to opt out of processing personal data for targeted advertising, the sale of personal data, and the right to correct inaccuracies.  

To learn more about the TDPSA, read more here.   

The purpose of the Privacy Task Force

As part of this announcement, Attorney General Paxton released a statement to explain his reasoning for forming a task force to support the TDPSA and how he intends to handle exploitation and violations.

“Any entity abusing or exploiting Texans’ sensitive data will be met with the full force of the law. Companies that collect and sell data in an unauthorized manner, harm consumers financially, or use artificial intelligence irresponsibly present risks to our citizens that we take very seriously. As many companies seek more and more ways to exploit data they collect about consumers, I am doubling down to protect privacy rights.”

This task force clearly aims to safeguard consumer privacy rights, respond to technological advances, and take a strong position on noncompliant businesses. To read the official statement, click here. 

Responsibilities of the new task force 

The privacy task force in the Texas Attorney General’s office will play a pivotal role in enforcing and supporting several essential Texas data privacy laws by enforcing the TDPSA, the Texas Identity Theft Enforcement and Protection Act, the Texas Data Broker Act, the Texas Capture or Use of Biometric Identifier Act, the Deceptive Trade Practices Act, and other state and federal privacy laws, including the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). 

Implications for employers outside of Texas

In addition to Texas, several other states, including Minnesota and Rhode Island have enacted data privacy laws. Employers should stay informed on the development and evolution of data and privacy laws sweeping the country. Employers operating and hiring in states with data privacy laws should consult their legal counsel to see how new and existing data privacy laws affect their business and hiring practices. 

Verified Credentials will attempt to provide updates as the legal landscape for data and privacy laws continues to evolve.