On January 8, 2020, the Virginia General Assembly will begin its 60 calendar day legislative session. Legislation relating to privacy will be on the agenda, including HB 473, titled the “Virginia Privacy Act,” that proposes to strengthen the data privacy rights of Virginians.
Scope of the Proposed Legislation
The provisions of the legislation apply to “any legal entity (i) that conducts business in the Commonwealth or produces products or services that are intentionally targeted to residents of the Commonwealth and (ii) that (1) controls or processes personal data of not fewer than 100,000 consumers; or (2) derives over 50 percent of gross revenue from the sale of personal data and processes or controls personal data of not fewer than 25,000 customers.” The bill has exceptions to its scope applicable to, among others, local and state governments, credit reporting agencies and financial institutions governed by other privacy laws, and also exempts certain health care related information governed by federal law and employment records.
The legislation focuses on the responsibilities of data controllers, who are primarily responsible for complying with the provisions of the legislation, and data processors, who must adhere to the instructions of the controller and assist a controller in meeting the requirements of the proposed act.
Across the country, school districts use technology to facilitate learning and assist in classroom management. From tracking grades and communicating with parents to monitoring bathroom breaks, technology is everywhere in our schools. But as technology becomes more prevalent in the classroom, what does that mean for student data privacy?
