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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2520 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 33
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
William J. Driscoll, Jr.
_________________
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act establishing the Comprehensive Massachusetts Consumer Data Privacy Act.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :William J. Driscoll, Jr.Norfolk, Plymouth and Bristol 1 of 31
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2520 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 33
By Mr. Driscoll, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 33) of William J. Driscoll, Jr. for
legislation to establish the comprehensive Massachusetts consumer data privacy act. Advanced
Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
_______________
An Act establishing the Comprehensive Massachusetts Consumer Data Privacy Act.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. The General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, are hereby
2amended by inserting after chapter 93L the following chapter:-
3 CHAPTER 93M.
4 Massachusetts Consumer Privacy Act
5 Section 1. As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following
6terms have the following meanings.
7 “Adult”, any individual who is at least eighteen years of age.
8 "Affiliate", a legal entity that shares common branding with another legal entity or
9controls, is controlled by or is under common control with another legal entity. For the purposes
10of this subdivision, "control" or "controlled" means (A) ownership of, or the power to vote, more
11than fifty per cent of the outstanding shares of any class of voting security of a company, (B) 2 of 31
12control in any manner over the election of a majority of the directors or of individuals exercising
13similar functions, or (C) the power to exercise controlling influence over the management of a
14company.
15 "Authenticate", to use reasonable means to determine that a request to exercise any of the
16rights afforded pursuant to this act is being made by, or on behalf of, the consumer who is
17entitled to exercise such consumer rights with respect to the personal data at issue.
18 "Biometric data", data generated by automatic measurements of an individual's biological
19characteristics, such as a fingerprint, a voiceprint, eye retinas, irises or other unique biological
20patterns or characteristics that are used to identify a specific individual. "Biometric data" does
21not include (A) a digital or physical photograph, (B) an audio or video recording, or (C) any data
22generated from a digital or physical photograph, or an audio or video recording, unless such data
23is generated to identify a specific individual.
24 "Business associate" shall have the same meaning as provided in the Health Insurance
25Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, 42 USC 1320d.
26 "Child" shall have the same meaning as provided in the federal Children’s Online Privacy
27Act, 15 U.S.C. 6501.
28 "Consent", a clear affirmative act signifying a consumer's freely given, specific, informed
29and unambiguous agreement to allow the processing of personal data relating to the consumer.
30"Consent" may include a written statement, including by electronic means, or any other
31unambiguous affirmative action. "Consent" does not include (A) acceptance of a general or
32broad terms of use or similar document that contains descriptions of personal data processing 3 of 31
33along with other, unrelated information, (B) hovering over, muting, pausing or closing a given
34piece of content, or (C) agreement obtained through the use of dark patterns.
35 "Consumer", an individual who is a resident of this state. "Consumer" does not include an
36individual acting in a commercial or employment context or as an employee, owner, director,
37officer or contractor of a company, partnership, sole proprietorship, nonprofit or government
38agency whose communications or transactions with the controller occur solely within the context
39of that individual's role with the company, partnership, sole proprietorship, nonprofit or
40government agency.
41 “Consumer Health Data”, means any personal data that a controller uses to identify a
42consumer’s physical or mental health condition or diagnosis, and includes, but is not limited to,
43gender-affirming health data and reproductive or sexual health data.
44 "Controller", an individual who, or legal entity that, alone or jointly with others
45determines the purpose and means of processing personal data.
46 "COPPA", the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998, 15 USC 6501 et seq.,
47and the regulations, rules, guidance and exemptions adopted pursuant to said act, as said act and
48such regulations, rules, guidance and exemptions may be amended from time to time.
49 "Covered entity", shall have the same meaning as provided in the Health Insurance
50Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, 42 USC 1320d.
51 "Dark pattern", (A) a user interface designed or manipulated with the effect of
52substantially subverting or impairing user autonomy, decision-making or choice, and (B) 4 of 31
53includes, but is not limited to, any practice the Federal Trade Commission refers to as a "dark
54pattern".
55 "Decisions that produce legal or similarly significant effects concerning the consumer",
56decisions made by the controller that result in the provision or denial by the controller of
57financial or lending services, housing, insurance, education enrollment or opportunity, criminal
58justice, employment opportunities, health care services or access to basic necessities such as food
59and water.
60 "De-identified data", data that cannot reasonably be used to infer information about, or
61otherwise be linked to, an identified or identifiable individual, or a device linked to such
62individual, if the controller that possesses such data (A) takes reasonable measures to ensure that
63such data cannot be associated with an individual, (B) publicly commits to process such data
64only in a de-identified fashion and not attempt to re-identify such data, and (C) contractually
65obligates any recipients of such data to satisfy the criteria set forth in subparagraphs (A) and (B)
66of this subdivision.
67 “Gender-affirming health care services” shall have the same meaning as provided in
68section 1 of chapter 9A of the General Laws as amended by chapter 127 of the Acts of 2022.
69 “Gender-affirming health data”, any personal data concerning an effort made by a
70consumer to seek, or a consumer’s receipt of, gender-affirming health care services.
71 “Geofence”, any technology that uses global positioning coordinates, cell tower
72connectivity, cellular data, radio frequency identification, wireless fidelity technology data or
73any other form of location detection, or any combination of such coordinates, connectivity, data,
74identification or other form of location detection, to establish a virtual boundary. 5 of 31
75 “Heightened risk of harm to minors”, processing minors' personal data in a manner that
76presents any reasonably foreseeable risk of (A) any unfair or deceptive treatment of, or any
77unlawful disparate impact on, minors, (B) any financial, physical or reputational injury to
78minors, or (C) any physical or other intrusion upon the solitude or seclusion, or the private affairs
79or concerns, of minors if such intrusion would be offensive to a reasonable person;
80 "HIPAA", the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, 42 USC
811320d et seq., as amended from time to time.
82 "Identified or identifiable individual", an individual who can be readily identified,
83directly or indirectly.
84 "Institution of higher education", any individual who, or school, board, association,
85limited liability company or corporation that, is licensed or accredited to offer one or more
86programs of higher learning leading to one or more degrees.
87 “Mental health facility”, any health care facility in which at least seventy per cent of the
88health care services provided in such facility are mental health services.
89 “Minor”, any consumer who is younger than eighteen years of age.
90 "Nonprofit organization", any organization that is exempt from taxation under Section
91501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), 501(c)(6) or 501(c)(12) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any
92subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as amended from time to
93time.
94 “Online service, product or feature”, any service, product or feature that is provided
95online. "Online service, product or feature" does not include any (A) telecommunications 6 of 31
96service, as defined in 47 USC 153, as amended from time to time, (B) broadband Internet access
97service, as defined in 47 CFR 54.400, as amended from time to time, or (C) delivery or use of a
98physical product;
99 "Personal data", any information that is linked or reasonably linkable to an identified or
100identifiable individual. "Personal data" does not include de-identified data or publicly available
101information.
102 "Precise geolocation data", information derived from technology, including, but not
103limited to, global positioning system level latitude and longitude coordinates or other
104mechanisms, that directly identifies the specific location of an individual with precision and
105accuracy within a radius of one thousand seven hundred fifty feet. "Precise geolocation data"
106does not include: (i) the content of communications; or (ii) any data generated by or connected to
107advanced utility metering infrastructure systems or equipment for use by a utility.
108 "Process" or "processing", any operation or set of operations performed, whether by
109manual or automated means, on personal data or on sets of personal data, such as the collection,
110use, storage, disclosure, analysis, deletion or modification of personal data.
111 "Processor", an individual who, or legal entity that, processes personal data on behalf of a
112controller.
113 "Profiling", any form of automated processing performed on personal data to evaluate,
114analyze or predict personal aspects related to an identified or identifiable individual's economic
115situation, health, personal preferences, interests, reliability, behavior, location or movements.
116 "Protected health information", shall have the same meaning as provided in HIPAA. 7 of 31
117 "Pseudonymous data", personal data that cannot be attributed to a specific individual
118without the use of additional information, provided such additional information is kept separately
119and is subject to appropriate technical and organizational measures to ensure that the personal
120data is not attributed to an identified or identifiable individual.
121 "Publicly available information", information that (A) is lawfully made available through
122federal, state or municipal government records or widely distributed media, or (B) a controller
123has a reasonable basis to believe a consumer has lawfully made available to the general public.
124 “Reproductive or sexual health care”, any health care-related services or products
125rendered or provided concerning a consumer’s reproductive system or sexual well-being,
126including, but not limited to, any such service or product rendered or provided concerning (A) an
127individual health condition, status, disease, diagnosis, diagnostic test or treatment, (B) a social,
128psychological, behavioral or medical intervention, (C) a surgery or procedure, including, but not
129limited to, an abortion, (D) a use or purchase of a medication, including, but not limited to, a
130medication used or purchased for the purposes of an abortion, (E) a bodily function, vital sign or
131symptom, (F) a measurement of a bodily function, vital sign or symptom, or (G) an abortion,
132including, but not limited to, medical or nonmedical services, products, diagnostics, counseling
133or follow-up services for an abortion.
134 “Reproductive or sexual health data”, any personal data concerning an effort made by a
135consumer to seek, or a consumer's receipt of, reproductive or sexual health care.
136 “Reproductive or sexual health facility”, any health care facility in which at least seventy
137per cent of the health care-related services or products rendered or provided in such facility are
138reproductive or sexual health care. 8 of 31
139 "Sale of personal data", the exchange of personal data for monetary or other valuable
140consideration by the controller to a third party. "Sale of personal data" does not include (A) the
141disclosure of personal data to a processor that processes the personal data on behalf of the
142controller, (B) the disclosure of personal data to a third party for purposes of providing a product
143or service requested by the consumer, (C) the disclosure or transfer of personal data to an
144affiliate of the controller, (D) the disclosure of personal data where the consumer directs the
145controller to disclose the personal data or intentionally uses the controller to interact with a third
146party, (E) the disclosure of personal data that the consumer (i) intentionally made available to the
147general public via a channel of mass media, and (ii) did not restrict to a specific audience, or (F)
148the disclosure or transfer of personal data to a third party as an asset that is part of a merger,
149acquisition, bankruptcy or other transaction, or a proposed merger, acquisition, bankruptcy or
150other transaction, in which the third party assumes control of all or part of the controller's assets.
151 "Sensitive data", personal data that includes (A) data revealing racial or ethnic origin,
152religious beliefs, mental or physical health condition or diagnosis, sex life, sexual orientation or
153citizenship or immigration status, (B) the processing of genetic or biometric data for the purpose
154of uniquely identifying an individual, (C) personal data collected from a known child, (D)
155precise geolocation data; (E) status as transgender or nonbinary; (F) consumer health data; or (G)
156data concerning an individual’s status as victim of a crime.
157 "Targeted advertising", displaying advertisements to a consumer where the advertisement
158is selected based on personal data obtained or inferred from that consumer's activities over time
159and across nonaffiliated Internet web sites or online applications to predict such consumer's
160preferences or interests. "Targeted advertising" does not include (A) advertisements based on
161activities within a controller's own Internet web sites or online applications, (B) advertisements 9 of 31
162based on the context of a consumer's current search query, visit to an Internet web site or online
163application, (C) advertisements directed to a consumer in response to the consumer's request for
164information or feedback, or (D) processing personal data solely to measure or report advertising
165frequency, performance or reach.
166 "Third party", an individual or legal entity, such as a public authority, agency or body,
167other than the consumer, controller or processor or an affiliate of the processor or the controller.
168 "Trade secret", shall have the same meaning as provided in section 2 of chapter 93 of the
169General Laws.
170 Section 2. The provisions of this act apply to persons that conduct business in this state or
171persons that produce products or services that are targeted to residents of this state and that
172during the preceding calendar year: (A) Controlled or processed the personal data of not less than
173one hundred thousand consumers, excluding personal data controlled or processed solely for the
174purpose of completing a payment transaction; or (B) controlled or processed the personal data of
175not less than twenty-five thousand consumers and derived more than twenty-five per cent of their
176gross revenue from the sale of personal data.
177 Section 3. (a) The provisions of this act do not apply to any: (1) Body, authority, board,
178bureau, commission, district or agency of this state or of any political subdivision of this state, or
179person who has entered into a contract with such entity while such person is processing
180consumer health data on behalf of such entity; (2) institution of higher education; (2) national
181securities association that is registered under 15 USC 78o-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1821934, as amended from time to time; (3) financial institution or data subject to Title V of the 10 of 31
183Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, 15 USC 6801 et seq.; or (4) covered entity or business associate, as
184defined in 45 CFR 160.103.
185 (b)The following information and data is exempt from of the provisions of this act:
186(1) Protected health information under HIPAA; (2) patient-identifying information for purposes
187of 42 USC 290dd-2; (3) identifiable private information for purposes of the federal policy for the
188protection of human subjects under 45 CFR 46; (4) identifiable private information that is
189otherwise information collected as part of human subjects research pursuant to the good clinical
190practice guidelines issued by the International Council for Harmonization of Technical
191Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use; (5) the protection of human subjects under 21
192CFR Parts 6, 50 and 56, or personal data used or shared in research, as defined in 45 CFR
193164.501, that is conducted in accordance with the standards set forth in this subdivision and
194subdivisions (3) and (4) of this subsection, or other research conducted in accordance with
195applicable law; (6) information and documents created for purposes of the Health Care Quality
196Improvement Act of 1986, 42 USC 11101 et seq.; (7) information derived from any of the health
197care related information listed in this subsection that is deidentified in accordance with the
198requirements for de-identification pursuant to HIPAA; (8) information originating from and
199intermingled to be indistinguishable with, or information treated in the same manner as,
200information exempt under this subsection that is maintained by a covered entity or business
201associate, program or qualified service organization, as specified in 42 USC 290dd-2, as
202amended from time to time; (9) information used for public health activities and purposes as
203authorized by HIPAA, community health activities and population health activities; (10) the
204collection, maintenance, disclosure, sale, communication or use of any personal information
205bearing on a consumer's credit worthiness, credit standing, credit capacity, character, general 11 of 31
206reputation, personal characteristics or mode of living by a consumer reporting agency, furnisher
207or user that provides information for use in a consumer report, and by a user of a consumer
208report, but only to the extent that such activity is regulated by and authorized under the Fair
209Credit Reporting Act, 15 USC 1681 et seq., as amended from time to time; (11) personal data
210collected, processed, sold or disclosed in compliance with the Driver's Privacy Protection Act of
2111994, 18 USC 2721 et seq., as amended from time to time; (12) personal data regulated by the
212Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, 20 USC 1232g et seq., as amended from time to
213time; (13) personal data collected, processed, sold or disclosed in compliance with the Farm
214Credit Act, 12 USC 2001 et seq., as amended from time to time; (14) data processed or
215maintained (A) in the course of an individual applying to, employed by or acting as an agent or
216independent contractor of a controller, processor or third party, to the extent that the data is
217collected and used within the context of that role, (B) as the emergency contact information of an
218individual under Section 1 of this act used for emergency contact purposes, or (C) that is
219necessary to retain to administer benefits for another individual relating to the individual who is
220the subject of the information under subdivision (1) of this subsection and used for the purposes
221of administering such benefits; and (15) personal data collected, processed, sold or disclosed in
222relation to price, route or service, as such terms are used in the Airline Deregulation Act, 49 USC
22340101 et seq., as amended from time to time, by an air carrier subject to said act, to the extent
224Section 1 of this act are preempted by the Airline Deregulation Act, 49 USC 41713, as amended
225from time to time.
226 (c)Controllers and processors that comply with the verifiable parental consent
227requirements of COPPA shall be deemed compliant with any obligation to obtain parental
228consent pursuant to Section 1 of this act. 12 of 31
229 Section 4. (a) A consumer shall have the right to: (1) confirm whether or not a controller
230is processing the consumer's personal data and access such personal data, unless such
231confirmation or access would require the controller to reveal a trade secret; (2) correct
232inaccuracies in the consumer's personal data, taking into account the nature of the personal data
233and the purposes of the processing of the consumer's personal data; (3) delete personal data
234provided by, or obtained about, the consumer; (4) obtain a copy of the consumer's personal data
235processed by the controller, in a portable and, to the extent technically feasible, readily usable
236format that allows the consumer to transmit the data to another controller without hindrance,
237where the processing is carried out by automated means, provided such controller shall not be
238required to reveal any trade secret; and (5) opt out of the processing of the personal data for
239purposes of (A) targeted advertising, (B) the sale of personal data, except as provided in
240subsection (b) of section 6 of this act, or (C) profiling in furtherance of solely automated
241decisions that produce legal or similarly significant effects concerning the consumer.
242 (b)A consumer may exercise rights under this section by a secure and reliable means
243established by the controller and described to the consumer in the controller's privacy notice. A
244consumer may designate an authorized agent in accordance with section 5 of this act to exercise
245the rights of such consumer to opt out of the processing of such consumer's personal data for
246purposes of subdivision (5) (A) and (B) of subsection (a) of this section on behalf of the
247consumer. In the case of processing personal data of a known child, the parent or legal guardian
248may exercise such consumer rights on the child's behalf. In the case of processing personal data
249concerning a consumer subject to a guardianship, conservatorship or other protective
250arrangement, the guardian or the conservator of the consumer may exercise such rights on the
251consumer's behalf. 13 of 31
252 (c)Except as otherwise provided in this act, a controller shall comply with a request
253by a consumer to exercise the consumer rights authorized pursuant to said sections as follows:
254 (1)A controller shall respond to the consumer without undue delay, but not later than
255forty-five days after receipt of the request. The controller may extend the response period by
256forty-five additional days when reasonably necessary, considering the complexity and number of
257the consumer's requests, provided the controller informs the consumer of any such extension
258within the initial forty-five-day response period and of the reason for the extension.
259 (2)If a controller declines to take action regarding the consumer's request, the
260controller shall inform the consumer without undue delay, but not later than forty-five days after
261receipt of the request, of the justification for declining to take action and instructions for how to
262appeal the decision.
263 (3)Information provided in response to a consumer request shall be provided by a
264controller, free of charge, once per consumer during any twelve-month period. If requests from a
265consumer are manifestly unfounded, technically infeasible, excessive or repetitive, the controller
266may charge the consumer a reasonable fee to cover the administrative costs of complying with
267the request or decline to act on the request. The controller bears the burden of demonstrating the
268manifestly unfounded, technically infeasible, excessive or repetitive nature of the request.
269 (4)If a controller is unable to authenticate a request to exercise any of the rights
270afforded under subdivisions (1) to (4), inclusive, of subsection (a) of this section using
271commercially reasonable efforts, the controller shall not be required to comply with a request to
272initiate an action pursuant to this section and shall provide notice to the consumer that the
273controller is unable to authenticate the request to exercise such right or rights until such 14 of 31
274consumer provides additional information reasonably necessary to authenticate such consumer
275and such consumer's request to exercise such right or rights. A controller shall not be required to
276authenticate an opt-out request, but a controller may deny an opt-out request if the controller has
277a good faith, reasonable and documented belief that such request is fraudulent. If a controller
278denies an opt-out request because the controller believes such request is fraudulent, the controller
279shall send a notice to the person who made such request disclosing that such controller believes
280such request is fraudulent, why such controller believes such request is fraudulent and that such
281controller shall not comply with such request.
282 (5)A controller that has obtained personal data about a consumer from a source other
283than the consumer shall be deemed in compliance with a consumer's request to delete such data
284pursuant to subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of this section by (A) retaining a record of the
285deletion request and the minimum data necessary for the purpose of ensuring the consumer's
286personal data remains deleted from the controller's records and not using such retained data for
287any other purpose pursuant to the provisions of Section 1 of this act, or (B) opting the consumer
288out of the processing of such personal data for any purpose except for those exempted pursuant
289to the provisions of Section 1 of this act.
290 (d) A controller shall establish a process for a consumer to appeal the controller's refusal
291to take action on a request within a reasonable period of time after the consumer's receipt of the
292decision. The appeal process shall be conspicuously available and similar to the process for
293submitting requests to initiate action pursuant to this section. Not later than sixty days after
294receipt of an appeal, a controller shall inform the consumer in writing of any action taken or not
295taken in response to the appeal, including a written explanation of the reasons for the decisions.
296If the appeal is denied, the controller shall also provide the consumer with an online mechanism, 15 of 31
297if available, or other method through which the consumer may contact the Attorney General to
298submit a complaint.
299 Section 5. A consumer may designate another person to serve as the consumer's
300authorized agent, and act on such consumer's behalf, to opt out of the processing of such
301consumer's personal data for one or more of the purposes specified in subdivision (5) (A) and (B)
302of subsection (a) of section 4 of this act. A controller shall comply with an opt-out request
303received from an authorized agent if the controller is able to verify, with commercially
304reasonable effort, the identity of the consumer and the authorized agent's authority to act on such
305consumer's behalf.
306 Section 6. (a) A controller shall: (1) Limit the collection of personal data to what is
307adequate, relevant and reasonably necessary in relation to the purposes for which such data is
308processed, as disclosed to the consumer; (2) except as otherwise provided in Section 1 of this act,
309not process personal data for purposes that are neither reasonably necessary to, nor compatible
310with, the disclosed purposes for which such personal data is processed, as disclosed to the
311consumer, unless the controller obtains the consumer's consent; (3) establish, implement and
312maintain reasonable administrative, technical and physical data security practices to protect the
313confidentiality, integrity and accessibility of personal data appropriate to the volume and nature
314of the personal data at issue; (4) not process sensitive data concerning a consumer without
315obtaining the consumer's consent; (5) in the case of the processing of sensitive data concerning a
316known child, without processing such data in accordance with COPPA; (6) not process personal
317data in violation of the laws of this state and federal laws that prohibit unlawful discrimination
318against consumers; (7) provide an effective mechanism for a consumer to revoke the consumer's
319consent under this section that is at least as easy as the mechanism by which the consumer 16 of 31
320provided the consumer's consent and, upon revocation of such consent, cease to process the data
321as soon as practicable, but not later than forty-five days after the receipt of such request; and (8)
322not process the personal data of a consumer for purposes of targeted advertising, or sell the
323consumer's personal data without the consumer's consent, under circumstances where a
324controller has actual knowledge, and willfully disregards, that the consumer is at least thirteen
325years of age but younger than sixteen years of age. A controller shall not discriminate against a
326consumer for exercising any of the consumer rights contained in Section 4 of this act, including
327denying goods or services, charging different prices or rates for goods or services or providing a
328different level of quality of goods or services to the consumer.
329 (b)Nothing in subsection (a) of this section shall be construed to require a controller
330to provide a product or service that requires the personal data of a consumer which the controller
331does not collect or maintain, or prohibit a controller from offering a different price, rate, level,
332quality or selection of goods or services to a consumer, including offering goods or services for
333no fee, if the offering is in connection with a consumer's voluntary participation in a bona fide
334loyalty, rewards, premium features, discounts or club card program.
335 (c)A controller shall provide consumers with a reasonably accessible, clear and
336meaningful privacy notice that includes: (1) The categories of personal data processed by the
337controller; (2) the purpose for processing personal data; (3) how consumers may exercise their
338consumer rights, including how a consumer may appeal a controller's decision with regard to the
339consumer's request; (4) the categories of personal data that the controller shares with third
340parties, if any; (5) the categories of third parties, if any, with which the controller shares personal
341data; and (6) an active electronic mail address or other mechanism that the consumer may use to
342contact the controller. 17 of 31
343 (d)If a controller sells personal data to third parties or processes personal data for
344targeted advertising, the controller shall clearly and conspicuously disclose such processing, as
345well as the manner in which a consumer may exercise the right to opt out of such processing.
346 (e)(1) A controller shall establish, and shall describe in a privacy notice, one or more
347secure and reliable means for consumers to submit a request to exercise their consumer rights
348pursuant to this act. Such means shall take into account the ways in which consumers normally
349interact with the controller, the need for secure and reliable communication of such requests and
350the ability of the controller to verify the identity of the consumer making the request.
351 A controller shall not require a consumer to create a new account in order to exercise
352consumer rights, but may require a consumer to use an existing account. Any such means shall
353include:
354 (A)(i) Providing a clear and conspicuous link on the controller's Internet web site to
355an Internet web page that enables a consumer, or an agent of the consumer, to opt out of the
356targeted advertising or sale of the consumer's personal data; and
357 (ii) Not later than July 1, 2025, allowing a consumer to opt out of any processing of the
358consumer's personal data for the purposes of targeted advertising, or any sale of such personal
359data, through an opt out preference signal sent, with such consumer's consent, by a platform,
360technology or mechanism to the controller indicating such consumer's intent to opt out of any
361such processing or sale. Such platform, technology or mechanism shall:
362 (I)Not unfairly disadvantage another controller; 18 of 31
363 (II)Not make use of a default setting, but, rather, require the consumer to make an
364affirmative, freely given and unambiguous choice to opt out of any processing of such
365consumer's personal data pursuant to Section 1 of this act;
366 (III)Be consumer-friendly and easy to use by the average consumer;
367 (IV)Be as consistent as possible with any other similar platform, technology or
368mechanism required by any federal or state law or regulation; and
369 (V)Enable the controller to accurately determine whether the consumer is a resident
370of this state and whether the consumer has made a legitimate request to opt out of any sale of
371such consumer's personal data or targeted advertising.
372 (B)A controller that recognizes opt out preference signals that have been approved by
373other state laws or regulations shall be deemed to be in compliance with subsection (A) of this
374section.
375 (C)If a consumer's decision to opt out of any processing of the consumer's personal
376data for the purposes of targeted advertising, or any sale of such personal data, through an opt-
377out preference signal sent in accordance with the provisions of subparagraph (A) of this
378subdivision conflicts with the consumer's existing voluntary participation in a controller's bona
379fide loyalty, rewards, premium features, discounts or club card program, the controller shall
380comply with such consumer's opt-out preference signal but may notify such consumer of such
381conflict and provide to such consumer the choice to confirm participation in such program.
382 (2) If a controller responds to consumer opt‐out requests received pursuant to
383subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of this subsection by informing the consumer of a charge for 19 of 31
384the use of any product or service, the controller shall present the terms of any financial incentive
385offered pursuant to subsection (b) of this section for the retention, use, sale or sharing of the
386consumer's personal data.
387 (f) A controller shall not: (1) use a geofence to establish a virtual boundary that is within
388one thousand seven hundred fifty feet of any mental health facility or reproductive or sexual
389health facility for the purpose of identifying, tracking, collecting data from or sending any
390notification to a consumer regarding the consumer’s consumer health data; or (2) sell, or offer to
391sell, consumer health data without first obtaining the consumer’s consent.
392 Section 7. (a) Each controller that offers any online service, product or feature to
393consumers whom such controller has actual knowledge, or willfully disregards, are minors shall
394use reasonable care to avoid any heightened risk of harm to minors caused by such online
395service, product or feature. In any enforcement action brought by the Attorney General pursuant
396to this act, there shall be a rebuttable presumption that a controller used reasonable care as
397required under this section if the controller complied with the provisions of this act concerning
398data protection assessments.
399 (b) (1) Subject to the consent requirement established in subdivision (3) of this
400subsection, no controller that offers any online service, product or feature to consumers whom
401such controller has actual knowledge, or willfully disregards, are minors shall: (A) Process any
402minor's personal data (i) for the purposes of (I) targeted advertising, (II) any sale of personal
403data, or (III) profiling in furtherance of any fully automated decision made by such controller
404that produces any legal or similarly significant effect concerning the provision or denial by such
405controller of any financial or lending services, housing, insurance, education enrollment or 20 of 31
406opportunity, criminal justice, employment opportunity, health care services or access to essential
407goods or services, (ii) unless such processing is reasonably necessary to provide such online
408service, product or feature, (iii) for any processing purpose (I) other than the processing purpose
409that the controller disclosed at the time such controller collected such personal data, or (II) that is
410reasonably necessary for, and compatible with, the processing purpose described in subparagraph
411(A)(iii)(I) of this subdivision, or (iv) for longer than is reasonably necessary to provide such
412online service, product or feature; or (B) use any system design feature to significantly increase,
413sustain or extend any minor's use of such online service, product or feature. The provisions of
414this subdivision shall not apply to any service or application that is used by and under the
415direction of an educational entity, including, but not limited to, a learning management system or
416a student engagement program.
417 (2) Subject to the consent requirement established in subdivision (3) of this subsection,
418no controller that offers an online service, product or feature to consumers whom such controller
419has actual knowledge, or willfully disregards, are minors shall collect a minor's precise
420geolocation data unless: (A) Such precise geolocation data is reasonably necessary for the
421controller to provide such online service, product or feature and, if such data is necessary to
422provide such online service, product or feature, such controller may only collect such data for the
423time necessary to provide such online service, product or feature; and (B) the controller provides
424to the minor a signal indicating that such controller is collecting such precise geolocation data,
425which signal shall be available to such minor for the entire duration of such collection.
426 (3) No controller shall engage in the activities described in subdivisions (1) and (2) of
427this subsection unless the controller obtains the minor's consent or, if the minor is younger than
428thirteen years of age, the consent of such minor's parent or legal guardian. A controller that 21 of 31
429complies with the verifiable parental consent requirements established in the Children's Online
430Privacy Protection Act of 1998, 15 USC 6501 et seq., and the regulations, rules, guidance and
431exemptions adopted pursuant to said act, as said act and such regulations, rules, guidance and
432exemptions may be amended from time to time, shall be deemed to have satisfied any
433requirement to obtain parental consent under this subdivision.
434 (c) (1) No controller that offers any online service, product or feature to consumers whom
435such controller has actual knowledge, or willfully disregards, are minors shall: (A) Provide any
436consent mechanism that is designed to substantially subvert or impair, or is manipulated with the
437effect of substantially subverting or impairing, user autonomy, decision-making or choice; or (B)
438except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, offer any direct messaging apparatus for
439use by minors without providing readily accessible and easy-to-use safeguards to limit the ability
440of adults to send unsolicited communications to minors with whom they are not connected.
441 (2) The provisions of subparagraph (B) of subdivision (1) of this subsection shall not
442apply to services where the predominant or exclusive function is: (A) Electronic mail; or (B)
443direct messaging consisting of text, photos or videos that are sent between devices by electronic
444means, where messages are (i) shared between the sender and the recipient, (ii) only visible to
445the sender and the recipient, and (iii) not posted publicly.
446 Section 8. (a) A processor shall adhere to the instructions of a controller and shall assist
447the controller in meeting the controller's obligations under Section 1 of this act. Such assistance
448shall include: (1) Taking into account the nature of processing and the information available to
449the processor, by appropriate technical and organizational measures, insofar as is reasonably
450practicable, to fulfill the controller's obligation to respond to consumer rights requests; (2) taking 22 of 31
451into account the nature of processing and the information available to the processor, by assisting
452the controller in meeting the controller's obligations in relation to the security of processing the
453personal data and in relation to the notification of a breach of security pursuant to chapter 93H of
454the General Laws, of the system of the processor, in order to meet the controller's obligations;
455and (3) providing necessary information to enable the controller to conduct and document data
456protection assessments.
457 (b)A contract between a controller and a processor shall govern the processor's data
458processing procedures with respect to processing performed on behalf of the controller. The
459contract shall be binding and clearly set forth instructions for processing data, the nature and
460purpose of processing, the type of data subject to processing, the duration of processing and the
461rights and obligations of both parties. The contract shall also require that the processor: (1)
462Ensure that each person processing personal data is subject to a duty of confidentiality with
463respect to the data; (2) at the controller's direction, delete or return all personal data to the
464controller as requested at the end of the provision of services, unless retention of the personal
465data is required by law; (3) upon the reasonable request of the controller, make available to the
466controller all information in its possession necessary to demonstrate the processor's compliance
467with the obligations in Section 1 of this act; and (4) allow, and cooperate with, reasonable
468assessments by the controller or the controller's designated assessor, or the processor may
469arrange for a qualified and independent assessor to conduct an assessment of the processor's
470policies and technical and organizational measures in support of the obligations under Section 1
471of this act, using an appropriate and accepted control standard or framework and assessment
472procedure for such assessments. The processor shall provide a report of such assessment to the
473controller upon request; and (5) engage any subcontractor pursuant to a written contract that 23 of 31
474requires the subcontractor to meet the obligations of the processor with respect to the personal
475data.
476 (c)Nothing in this section shall be construed to relieve a controller or processor from
477the liabilities imposed on the controller or processor by virtue of such controller's or processor's
478role in the processing relationship, as described in Section 1 of this act.
479 (d)Determining whether a person is acting as a controller or processor with respect to
480a specific processing of data is a fact-based determination that depends upon the context in
481which personal data is to be processed. A person who is not limited in such person's processing
482of personal data pursuant to a controller's instructions, or who fails to adhere to such instructions,
483is a controller and not a processor with respect to a specific processing of data. A processor that
484continues to adhere to a controller's instructions with respect to a specific processing of personal
485data remains a processor. If a processor begins, alone or jointly with others, determining the
486purposes and means of the processing of personal data, the processor is a controller with respect
487to such processing and may be subject to an enforcement action under section 12 of this act.
488 Section 9. (a) A controller shall conduct and document a data protection assessment for
489each of the controller's processing activities that presents a heightened risk of harm to a
490consumer. For the purposes of this section, processing that presents a heightened risk of harm to
491a consumer includes: (1) The processing of personal data for the purposes of targeted
492advertising; (2) the sale of personal data; (3) the processing of personal data for the purposes of
493profiling, where such profiling presents a reasonably foreseeable risk of (A) unfair or deceptive
494treatment of, or unlawful disparate impact on, consumers, (B) financial, physical or reputational
495injury to consumers, (C) a physical or other intrusion upon the solitude or seclusion, or the 24 of 31
496private affairs or concerns, of consumers, where such intrusion would be offensive to a
497reasonable person, or (D) other substantial injury to consumers; and (4) the processing of
498sensitive data.
499 (b)Data protection assessments conducted pursuant to subsection (a) of this section
500shall identify and weigh the benefits that may flow, directly and indirectly, from the processing
501to the controller, the consumer, other stakeholders and the public against the potential risks to the
502rights of the consumer associated with such processing, as mitigated by safeguards that can be
503employed by the controller to reduce such risks. The controller shall factor into any such data
504protection assessment the use of de-identified data and the reasonable expectations of consumers,
505as well as the context of the processing and the relationship between the controller and the
506consumer whose personal data will be processed.
507 (c) Each controller that, as of the effective date of this act, offers any online service,
508product or feature to consumers whom such controller has actual knowledge, or willfully
509disregards, are minors shall conduct a data protection assessment for such online service, product
510or feature (1) in a manner that is consistent with this section; and (2) that addresses (A) the
511purpose of such online service, product or feature; (B) the categories of minors’ personal data
512that such online service, product or feature processes, (C) the purposes for which such controller
513processes minors’ personal data with respect to such online service, product or feature, and (D)
514any heightened risk of harm to minors that is a reasonably foreseeable result of offering such
515online service, product or feature to minors.
516 (d) Each controller that conducts a data protection assessment pursuant to subsection (c)
517of this section shall: (1) Review such data protection assessment as necessary to account for any 25 of 31
518material change to the processing operations of the online service, product or feature that is the
519subject of such data protection assessment; and (2) maintain documentation concerning such data
520protection assessment for the longer of (A) the three-year period beginning on the date on which
521such processing operations cease, or (B) as long as such controller offers such online service,
522product or feature.
523 (c)The Attorney General may require that a controller disclose any data protection
524assessment that is relevant to an investigation conducted by the Attorney General, and the
525controller shall make the data protection assessment available to the Attorney General. The
526Attorney General may evaluate the data protection assessment for compliance with the
527responsibilities set forth in this act. Data protection assessments shall be confidential and shall be
528exempt from disclosure under the Public Records Act, as set forth in chapter 66 of the General
529Laws. To the extent any information contained in a data protection assessment disclosed to the
530Attorney General includes information subject to attorney-client privilege or work product
531protection, such disclosure shall not constitute a waiver of such privilege or protection.
532 (d)A single data protection assessment may address a comparable set of processing
533operations that include similar activities.
534 (e)If a controller conducts a data protection assessment for the purpose of complying
535with another applicable law or regulation, the data protection assessment shall be deemed to
536satisfy the requirements established in this section if such data protection assessment is
537reasonably similar in scope and effect to the data protection assessment that would otherwise be
538conducted pursuant to this section. 26 of 31
539 (f)Data protection assessment requirements shall apply to processing activities
540created or generated after January 1, 2024, and are not retroactive.
541 Section 10. (a) Any controller in possession of de-identified data shall: (1) Take
542reasonable measures to ensure that the data cannot be associated with an individual; (2) publicly
543commit to maintaining and using de-identified data without attempting to reidentify the data; and
544(3) contractually obligate any recipients of the deidentified data to comply with all provisions of
545Section 1 of this act.
546 (b)Nothing in this act shall be construed to: (1) Require a controller or processor to
547re-identify de-identified data or pseudonymous data; or (2) maintain data in identifiable form, or
548collect, obtain, retain or access any data or technology, in order to be capable of associating an
549authenticated consumer request with personal data.
550 (c)Nothing in this act shall be construed to require a controller or processor to
551comply with an authenticated consumer rights request if the controller: (1) Is not reasonably
552capable of associating the request with the personal data or it would be unreasonably
553burdensome for the controller to associate the request with the personal data; (2) does not use the
554personal data to recognize or respond to the specific consumer who is the subject of the personal
555data, or associate the personal data with other personal data about the same specific consumer;
556and (3) does not sell the personal data to any third party or otherwise voluntarily disclose the
557personal data to any third party other than a processor, except as otherwise permitted in this
558section.
559 (d)The rights afforded under subdivisions (1) to (4), inclusive, of subsection (a) of
560section 4 of this act shall not apply to pseudonymous data in cases where the controller is able to 27 of 31
561demonstrate that any information necessary to identify the consumer is kept separately and is
562subject to effective technical and organizational controls that prevent the controller from
563accessing such information.
564 (e)A controller that discloses pseudonymous data or de-identified data shall exercise
565reasonable oversight to monitor compliance with any contractual commitments to which the
566pseudonymous data or de-identified data is subject and shall take appropriate steps to address
567any breaches of those contractual commitments.
568 Section 11. (a) Nothing in this act shall be construed to restrict a controller's or
569processor's ability to: (1) Comply with federal, state or municipal ordinances or regulations; (2)
570comply with a civil, criminal or regulatory inquiry, investigation, subpoena or summons by
571federal, state, municipal or other governmental authorities; (3) cooperate with law enforcement
572agencies concerning conduct or activity that the controller or processor reasonably and in good
573faith believes may violate federal, state or municipal ordinances or regulations; (4) investigate,
574establish, exercise, prepare for or defend legal claims; (5) provide a product or service
575specifically requested by a consumer; (6) perform under a contract to which a consumer is a
576party, including fulfilling the terms of a written warranty; (7) take steps at the request of a
577consumer prior to entering into a contract; (8) take immediate steps to protect an interest that is
578essential for the life or physical safety of the consumer or another individual, and where the
579processing cannot be manifestly based on another legal basis; (9) prevent, detect, protect against
580or respond to security incidents, identity theft, fraud, harassment, malicious or deceptive
581activities or any illegal activity, preserve the integrity or security of systems or investigate, report
582or prosecute those responsible for any such action; (10) engage in public or peer-reviewed
583scientific or statistical research in the public interest that adheres to all other applicable ethics 28 of 31
584and privacy laws and is approved, monitored and governed by an institutional review board that
585determines, or similar independent oversight entities that determine, (A) whether the deletion of
586the information is likely to provide substantial benefits that do not exclusively accrue to the
587controller, (B) the expected benefits of the research outweigh the privacy risks, and (C) whether
588the controller has implemented reasonable safeguards to mitigate privacy risks associated with
589research, including any risks associated with re-identification; (11) assist another controller,
590processor or third party with any of the obligations under Section 1 of this act; or (12) process
591personal data for reasons of public interest in the area of public health, community health or
592population health, but solely to the extent that such processing is (A) subject to suitable and
593specific measures to safeguard the rights of the consumer whose personal data is being
594processed, and (B) under the responsibility of a professional subject to confidentiality obligations
595under federal, state or local law.
596 (b)The obligations imposed on controllers or processors under Section 1 of this act
597shall not restrict a controller's or processor's ability to collect, use or retain data for internal use
598to: (1) Conduct internal research to develop, improve or repair products, services or technology;
599(2) effectuate a product recall; (3) identify and repair technical errors that impair existing or
600intended functionality; or (4) perform internal operations that are reasonably aligned with the
601expectations of the consumer or reasonably anticipated based on the consumer's existing
602relationship with the controller, or are otherwise compatible with processing data in furtherance
603of the provision of a product or service specifically requested by a consumer or the performance
604of a contract to which the consumer is a party.
605 (c)The obligations imposed on controllers or processors under Section 1 of this act
606shall not apply where compliance by the controller or processor with said sections would violate 29 of 31
607an evidentiary privilege under the laws of this state. Nothing in this act shall be construed to
608prevent a controller or processor from providing personal data concerning a consumer to a
609person covered by an evidentiary privilege under the laws of the state as part of a privileged
610communication.
611 (d)A controller or processor that discloses personal data to a processor or third-party
612controller in accordance with of this act shall not be deemed to have violated said sections if the
613processor or third-party controller that receives and processes such personal data violates said
614sections, provided, at the time the disclosing controller or processor disclosed such personal data,
615the disclosing controller or processor did not have actual knowledge that the receiving processor
616or third-party controller would violate said sections. A third-party controller or processor
617receiving personal data from a controller or processor in compliance with of this act is likewise
618not in violation of said sections for the transgressions of the controller or processor from which
619such third-party controller or processor receives such personal data.
620 (e)Nothing in this act shall be construed to: (1) Impose any obligation on a controller
621or processor that adversely affects the rights or freedoms of any person, including, but not
622limited to, the rights of any person to freedom of speech or freedom of the press guaranteed in
623the First Amendment to the United States Constitution; or (2) apply to any person's processing of
624personal data in the course of such person's purely personal or household activities.
625 (f)Personal data processed by a controller pursuant to this section may be processed
626to the extent that such processing is: (1) Reasonably necessary and proportionate to the purposes
627listed in this section; and (2) adequate, relevant and limited to what is necessary in relation to the
628specific purposes listed in this section. Personal data collected, used or retained pursuant to 30 of 31
629subsection (b) of this section shall, where applicable, take into account the nature and purpose or
630purposes of such collection, use or retention. Such data shall be subject to reasonable
631administrative, technical and physical measures to protect the confidentiality, integrity and
632accessibility of the personal data and to reduce reasonably foreseeable risks of harm to
633consumers relating to such collection, use or retention of personal data.
634 (g)If a controller processes personal data pursuant to an exemption in this section,
635the controller bears the burden of demonstrating that such processing qualifies for the exemption
636and complies with the requirements in subsection (f) of this section.
637 (h)Processing personal data for the purposes expressly identified in this section shall
638not solely make a legal entity a controller with respect to such processing.
639 Section 12. (a) The Attorney General shall have exclusive authority to enforce violations
640this act.
641 (b)During the period beginning on July 1, 2026 and ending on December 31, 2027,
642the Attorney General shall, prior to initiating any action for a violation of any provision of this
643act, issue a notice of violation to the controller if the Attorney General determines that a cure is
644possible. If the controller fails to cure such violation within sixty days of receipt of the notice of
645violation, the Attorney General may bring an action pursuant to this section.
646 (c) Not later than February 1, 2027, the Attorney General shall submit a report, in
647accordance with to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of
648matters relating to the judiciary disclosing: (1) The number of notices of violation the Attorney
649General has issued; (2) the nature of each violation; (3) the number of violations that were cured 31 of 31
650during the sixty-day cure period; and (4) any other matter the Attorney General deems relevant
651for the purposes of such report.
652 (d) Beginning on January 1, 2028, the Attorney General may, in determining whether to
653grant a controller or processor the opportunity to cure an alleged violation described in
654subsection (b) of this section, consider: (1) The number of violations; (2) the size and complexity
655of the controller or processor; (3) the nature and extent of the controller's or processor's
656processing activities; (4) the substantial likelihood of injury to the public; (5) the safety of
657persons or property; and (6) whether such alleged violation was likely caused by human or
658technical error.
659 (d)Nothing in section 1 of this act shall be construed as providing the basis for, or be
660subject to, a private right of action for violations of said section or any other law.
661 (e)A violation of the requirements of this act shall constitute an unfair trade practice
662for purposes of Chapter 93A of the General Laws. Notwithstanding section 9 of said chapter
66393A, the provisions of this act shall be enforced solely by the Attorney General.
664 Section 13. This act shall be effective July 1, 2026