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MASSACHUSETTS PERSONAL INFORMATION SECURITY LAW
GET COMPLIANT -- THE WHEN AND HOW!!
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1. Application to in-state [Massachusetts] and out-of-state businesses and others.
By its terms this new law applies to
every business, wherever
located, if it possesses PI [see #2 below] for any Massachusetts
resident. Thus, it applies whether you are a business located in Rhode Island, Massachusetts or elsewhere if
even one of your employee resides in Massachusetts or even one of your customers
or clients is a Massachusetts resident.
2. Scope of law -- Personal Information for a Massachusetts resident determined to be the core of "identity theft." PI means first name or initial and last name plus any one of the following:
Driver's License or state issued ID card number
Social Security Number
Credit or debit card number
Financial account number [e.g., as appears on every check]
3. Applies to all paper and computer stored records. All PI must be secured in storage, use or transmittal and disposed of in specified ways.
4. Exemptions -- There are none! This law applies to every person which possesses PI of a Massachusetts resident. Size doesn't matter; industry doesn't matter, profits and non-profits.
5. Not me! Do NOT make the mistake of saying "not me!." Do you have even a single employee? Do you accept checks from customers or clients? Ever do a credit or debit card transaction?
6. Consequences -- You don't want to go there, believe me. There is significant exposure from both the Massachusetts Attorney General as well as those whose identity is stolen and you may not have insurance coverage.
Becoming and staying compliant it, of course, the responsibility of each of you! But now help has arrived. SecureNetworks and I have collaborated in developing a product to ease the compliance burden. Go to the now available website to learn the "whys" and the "hows." I am confident that this product will be a valuable tool to get you where you need to go and at a cost far less than the Massachusetts government's estimate that compliance may cost on average some $5,000.
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My website has much more information about my practice and credentials as a seasoned business attorney and counselor. Just click on the link below and you'll be there.
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REMEMBER --
Other Legal Alerts and Legal Reliefs and all prior Newletters are available at my website.
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