Introduction to the U.S. Privacy Environment Flashcards
What are the branches of government?
i. Legislative
ii. Executive
iii. Judicial
What is the legislative branch made up of and what are it’s checks and balances?
The legislative branch has the power to create new laws.
i. Congress (House of Representatives and the Senate)
ii. Confirms presidential appointees / can override vetos
How does a bill become a law?
The bill must pass both house and senate, then goes to the white house. If the President signs the bill it becomes law, if not the President exercises their veto powers and goes back to the house. The House must have a 2/3 majority to overturn a veto.
What is the executive branch made up of and what are its checks and balances?
The executive branch carries out and enforces existing laws
i. President, VP, Cabinet, Federal Agencies
ii. Appoint federal judges / can veto laws passed by congress
What is the judicial branch made up of and what are its checks and balances?
The judicial branch interprets the meaning of laws
i. Federal Courts
ii. Determines whether laws are constitutional
What are the sources of law?
i. Constitutions – Supreme law of the land. All other laws must be consistent. (Unconstitutional laws are declared invalid by courts). Amendments are difficult.
ii. Legislation – Laws passed by congress or state
iii. Regulations and rules – Compliance expectations set my regulatory agencies (“Administrative Law”)
iv. Case law – Final decisions made by judges in court cases and looked to as precedent
v. Common law – Legal principles that have been developed over time in judicial decisions – often drawing on social customs and expectations
vi. Contract law – A subcategory of common law (e.g., The Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) exists in all 50 states.)
Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction is the power that a court has to render legal judgments. Jurisdiction may be limited by subject matter or geographic applicability.
Person
A person is a human or non-human entity that can sue and be sued, can own property, and can take part in contracts.
Preemption
A law that stems from a higher authority takes precedence over laws that stem from lower authorities.
Private Right of Action
Laws with a private right of action grant legal persons the ability to bring cases to court.
What are the primary regulatory authorities that regulate privacy in the U.S.?
i. Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
ii. Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
iii. Department of Commerce (DoC)
iv. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
v. Banking Regulators
What are the primary banking regulators that regulate privacy in the U.S.?
i. Federal Reserve Board
ii. Comptroller of the Currency
iii. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
iv. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
v. National Credit Union Administration
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
General authority to enforce the rules against unfair and deceptive trade practices (including the power to bring deception enforcement actions where an individual has broken a privacy promise).
- Lead agency for privacy enforcement
- Protects consumers against unfair and deceptive practices
- Enforces Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)
- Lacks authority over financial institutions
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Summary: Regulates interstate and international communications providers
Detail: Places significant compliance regulations on and govern the communications industry, such as television, radio, and telemarketing, and more recently, with online marketing developing such laws as the Telemarketing Sales Rule and the Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act (CAN-SPAM Act).
Department of Commerce (DoC)
Summary: Implements the EU-US Privacy Shield
Detail: Leading role in federal privacy policy development. Administers the Privacy Shield Framework between the US and EU. The DoC works along with the FTC on the enforcement of privacy and security standards set by organizations, particular with those having privacy self-regulatory programs.
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Creates regulations to protect the privacy and security of healthcare information. Responsible for enforcing HIPAA laws. The HHS shares rule-making and enforcement power with the FTC for data breaches related to medical records under the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Healthcare Act (HI-TECH Act)
Federal Reserve Board (Fed)
Responsible for enforcing provisions of specific federal financial regulatory mandates, such as the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA)
Comptroller of the Currency
Regulates and supervises all national and federal banks and savings institutions, including agencies of foreign banks. Ensures fair access to financial services and compliance with financial privacy laws and regulations.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Summary: Regulates how financial institutions handle personal information
Detail: An independent bureau under the Federal Reserve. CFPB has rule marking authority for laws related to financial privacy and oversees the relationship between consumers and financial products and services providers
State Attorney General
Chief legal advisor to the state government / state’s chief law enforcement officer. Authority to take enforcement action on a state’s unfair and deceptive practice law, HIPAA, GLBA, the Telemarketing Sales Rule, and violations of breach notification laws
Self-Regulation Model
Organizations that monitor privacy through internal privacy practices, frameworks/guidelines, policies and procedures, created and monitored by industry groups
Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS)
One of the most successful self-regulatory frameworks ever
Trust Marks
Images or logos of third-party seal and certification programs that are displayed on websites to indicate that it has adopted the guidelines or a program and passed a security and privacy test
Criminal Liability
Violations of criminal law with charges by the government. Parties that include depriving someone of their liberty.
Mens rea
The mens rea standard requires that a person had criminal intent
Civil Liability
Failure to carry out a legal duty owed to another party. Charges brought to courts by the claimant.
What are the three categories of legal liability?
- Legal Liability - contracts, torts, civil enforcement
- Negligence
- Strict Liability
Contract
Agreement by two parties. Made up of three parts: (1) Offer; (2) Acceptance; and (3) Consideration. Contracts are legally binding agreement between two parties and are enforceable in court.