Technology increasingly dominates everyday life. Whether it’s depositing a check, accessing medical records, hailing a ride share, or connecting with others on social media, it’s undeniable technology’s impact. The rapid introduction of new technologies such as Blockchain, artificial intelligence (“A.I.”) and autonomous systems, such as self-driving cars, promises to make lives easier and more efficient; however, there are always consequences in adopting these technologies. These consequences introduce significant legal issues including but not limited to the areas of privacy, security, fair use, and equality. The broad extent this area of law has with our other practices in business, consumer, and IP, the impact of technology on law is so significant that we have a dedicated practice for cyber and data privacy law. In fact, our Firm's name comes from a key data privacy concept, "privacy by design and by default."

The importance of data privacy laws increased over the past several years with the perceived value of the data itself. Unauthorized access to the Personally identifiable Information, or “PII,” of individuals creates potential legal issues when used in an inappropriate manner. Causes for this unauthorized access not only derive from criminal data breaches, but also from formal organizations, such as businesses, data brokers, and government agencies lacking proper data management principles. The myriad of varying state laws in the United States coupled with the broad reach of the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) creates a confusing regulatory landscape for individuals and organizations.

Intertwined with data privacy law, cyber law focuses on the cybersecurity measures used to protect PII data and also extends to many other areas such as e-commerce, Internet of Things (“IoT”), and digital assets. Acting as a set of rules to govern all actions involving the Internet and computing, its goal is to provide a safe, secure environment for individuals, property, and government entities against those who may use this technology for illegal purposes such as defamation, harassment, online/network attacks, hacking, money laundering, and extortion. Identifying, assessing, and addressing these cyber risks is more important than ever.

How Data Privacy Lawyers Can Assist You

By Design Law represents and advises clients on a wide range of legal issues related to cyber and data privacy law, including but not limited to data security programs, breach response, online protection, unauthorized use of PII, algorithmic/machine bias, technical contracts, and new technology adoption. With a deep understanding of the various regulatory laws such as GDPR, HIPAA, and CCPA, as well as an extensive background in technology, By Design Law provides clients with a unique perspective and legal advice.

Why Is It Important for Businesses to Secure Data Privacy?

Data privacy involves the proper handling of data, specifically customer data. It concerns how data is stored and whether or not it's shared with third parties. If your business involves collecting customer information, such as credit card info and other personal data, it's highly recommended to secure your data privacy to avoid costly problems. Here are several reasons why it's crucial to fully secure your data privacy.

Compliance

Businesses that fail to comply with privacy protection may have legal problems that can cost thousands of dollars and other penalties. For example, the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act limits how online businesses or app developers use the information of users who are younger than 13 years old. You need to strictly adhere to this to avoid investigations and other legal problems. Without a good data privacy lawyer who can help, you may end up losing your business. 

Transparency About Stored or Managed Data

When customers download a new app, they're usually asked to provide their email addresses or phone numbers. Those who buy items on the app or website must also provide credit or debit card information to successfully make a purchase. While some customers don't hesitate to provide personal information, especially to businesses they trust, some of them hesitate when it comes to sharing sensitive, personal data. 

Customers care about how their data is stored or managed, so ensure you don't share them with third parties. If you do share them with your affiliates, make sure customers are informed. Additionally, you need to also secure all customer data to avoid a data breach and other problems related to data privacy. Hiring an established IT company to protect data is also a smart move. 

Eliminated Cyber Crime

One of your organization's top goals is likely the prioritization of data privacy to protect your customers and avoid cybercrime. When your system is hacked, cybercriminals may use your customers' personal information to break into their bank accounts. The only way to prevent this is by securing data privacy.

Increased Credibility 

The last thing you want to happen is to lose your credibility, but that type of loss naturally occurs when you don't properly secure customer data. Customers lose trust in your brand, and this can significantly affect your business operations in the long run. Folks who no longer trust your business may discuss their opinions on social media or leave negative reviews that have a detrimental impact on your sales and bottom line. Clients and customers want their personal data protected, and you need to ensure data protection to avoid possible liability claims and fines. 

Avoided Financial Loss

Data breaches can lead to unnecessary and expensive litigation and claims. Your business or its insurer must cover legal fees and compensation to clients or customers affected by the data breach. Other costs involve paying for investigations and purchasing security software to avoid data breaches in the future.

Avoided Data Loss

Hackers do more than just commit cybercrimes. They may also delete the data they steal from you. leading to a loss of trust from your customers. We recommend securing data privacy to avoid this and to risk losing your business. 

Reduced Downtime

Data breaches usually lead to operational downtime for affected organizations. The ensuing investigation into potential data breaches can be expensive, and there's a high likelihood that you lose customers during the process. Securing all personal data can help prevent this possible outcome.

We are excited and proud to offer this unique practice area. Whether our clients are a large organization considering cyber insurance for its data privacy program, a victim of a data breach incident, or an individual seeking relief from online harassment, By Design Law provides complete legal advice and representation in all cyber and data privacy law issues.

Contact By Design Law Today

By Design Law is an established law firm that provides complete legal solutions to our clients, with the goal of preventing privacy issues. We offer expert legal advice to clients in Washington and have over 20 years of hands-on industry experience. Our data privacy attorney is a certified privacy professional who has helped several organizations in the past with regulatory compliance, system implementations and data privacy assessments. 

Our firm is ready to help you with advice and representation for your cyber and data privacy law matters. Call our office at (206) 593-1519 or click below to schedule a consultation. If you're looking for an experienced attorney to advise and represent your company navigate data privacy laws, please get in touch with us today.