Maryland legislators on Wednesday joined a growing chorus of state’s demanding limits on the reach of Big Tech with two data privacy bills. The bills follow examples set in states including California and Connecticut and take inspiration from more aggressive regulations in Europe. Like most states, Maryland does not have a comprehensive data privacy law. The first of these bills, the Maryland Online Data Privacy Act, would create rules that require large companies to limit the consumer data they collect to only what is necessary for legitimate business needs. The Maryland Kids Code, revives an effort from last session to implement new online protections for children.
Session 2024 priority: Data privacy is one of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce’s legislative priorities for 2024. The General Assembly has consistently considered data privacy legislation for several years, and we support a comprehensive approach to data privacy that works for both businesses and consumers — keeping in mind policies already adopted by neighboring states. Avoiding a patchwork of laws provides a clear set of rules for businesses, no matter their location.
