What the SHIELD Act Means for Your Business
New York’s Shield Act, which come into force on March 21, 2020, is the latest data privacy law that businesses across the country have to take into account. It applies to any businesses with customers in New York, and especially to businesses with current or potential New York customers. Coverage: The SHIELD Act New York has been amended to include any customer who resides in New York, whether the business is based there or not. Definition: The meaning of the term “security breach” has changed under the act. Before, consumers had to be notified about unauthorized access to information or data that had been acquired by a hacker or cybercriminal. Now, consumers must be notified when any unauthorized person accesses their personal information. Data Type: Previously, the law protected only certain types of information, such as social security numbers and driver’s license numbers. These have been expanded to include: Financial account numbers, such as credit