Georgia
Comprehensive Privacy Law
Georgia currently does not have a comprehensive consumer data privacy law in effect. However, there are significant legislative developments such as the Georgia Consumer Privacy Protection Act (SB 473) and SB 111, which are under consideration as part of efforts to establish comprehensive privacy laws in the state[1][2].
Privacy advocacy groups have criticized Georgia’s legislative attempts as being too weak and industry-friendly, with proposed bills receiving failing grades for consumer protection[3][4]. Without an active comprehensive privacy law, Georgia residents must rely on existing consumer protection mechanisms and federal regulations for data privacy protections.
Legislative Activity
Georgia’s most recent attempt at comprehensive privacy legislation was Senate Bill 111, which aimed to introduce rights such as age verification for minors and restrictions on targeted advertising. However, the bill did not advance in the House. Similarly, SB 473, introduced earlier, also failed to progress[1][2].
Both proposed bills were modeled after Virginia’s privacy law and faced significant criticism from privacy advocates for containing extensive exemptions and weak enforcement mechanisms[3][4]. The bills were designed to apply only to businesses with annual revenues exceeding $25 million, which would have limited their scope significantly compared to privacy laws in other states.
Implementation Timeline
Since Georgia’s recent privacy legislation efforts have failed to advance, there is currently no implementation timeline for a comprehensive state privacy law. The proposed bills had included delayed effective dates, with SB 111 containing provisions that would have taken effect July 1, 2026, if passed[1].
Georgia residents should monitor future legislative sessions for renewed privacy legislation efforts. The state may introduce new privacy bills in upcoming sessions, though the timeline for any future comprehensive privacy protections remains uncertain.
Your Rights as a Georgia Resident
Without a comprehensive state privacy law, Georgia residents have limited specific data privacy rights compared to residents of states like California, Virginia, or Colorado. However, some protections may be available through existing consumer protection laws and federal regulations.
- Right to know what data is collected: Currently very limited under Georgia law, though some federal regulations and company policies may provide disclosure requirements
- Right to delete personal information: Not established under Georgia state law, though some companies may honor deletion requests voluntarily or under other jurisdictions’ laws
- Right to opt out of data sales: No state-level right exists, though residents may have some protections under federal laws like those governing financial and health information
- Right to correct inaccurate data: Limited rights exist primarily for specific sectors like financial services and healthcare under federal laws
- Right to non-discrimination: No specific protections for exercising data privacy rights, as these rights are not established under Georgia law
These limited rights highlight the gap in Georgia’s privacy protections compared to states with comprehensive privacy legislation. Residents must rely on a patchwork of federal laws and voluntary corporate policies for data protection.
Business Requirements
Since Georgia lacks a comprehensive privacy law, businesses operating in the state face minimal state-level data privacy compliance requirements. However, companies may still be subject to other privacy obligations.
- Which companies must comply: No Georgia-specific comprehensive privacy law applies to businesses, though companies may be subject to federal regulations or laws from other states where they operate
- Notice and transparency requirements: Limited state-level requirements exist, primarily through general consumer protection laws rather than specific privacy mandates
- Consumer request response procedures: No state-mandated procedures for handling privacy requests, though businesses may have obligations under federal law or other states’ privacy laws
- Security and breach notification rules: Georgia has some data breach notification requirements, but these are less comprehensive than privacy-focused security obligations in other states
Practical Impact
- How these laws protect residents in daily life: Georgia residents currently have minimal state-level privacy protections, meaning their personal data collected by most businesses lacks comprehensive regulatory oversight compared to residents of states with privacy laws
- What to do if rights are violated: With limited state privacy rights, residents can file complaints with the Georgia Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division for general consumer issues, though specific privacy violation remedies are limited[5]
- Limitations and gaps in protection: Major gaps include no comprehensive rights to access, delete, or control personal data; no restrictions on data collection or use; limited ability to hold companies accountable for privacy violations; and no specific protections for sensitive data or minors beyond federal requirements
Comparison Context
- How Georgia compares to leading privacy states: Georgia significantly lags behind privacy leaders like California, which offers comprehensive consumer rights including access, deletion, and opt-out rights, and states like Virginia and Colorado that have enacted similar comprehensive frameworks[6]
- What residents might be missing compared to other states: Georgia residents lack the ability to request information about data collection, demand deletion of personal information, opt out of data sales or targeted advertising, correct inaccurate personal data, and seek legal remedies for privacy violations that residents of 19 other states enjoy[3][4]
Action Steps for Residents
- Immediate steps to protect privacy: Use privacy settings on social media and online accounts, review privacy policies before using services, consider using privacy-focused browsers and search engines, and be cautious about sharing personal information online
- How to exercise legal rights (if available): Contact the Georgia Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division for general consumer complaints, though specific privacy rights are limited under current Georgia law[5]
- Resources for staying informed: Monitor Georgia General Assembly legislation for future privacy bills, follow privacy advocacy organizations for updates on state legislation, and stay informed about privacy protections that may apply from federal law or other jurisdictions
Official Resources and Contact Information
Georgia General Assembly
To contact your state legislators about privacy legislation or to stay informed about future privacy bills, you can find your representatives using the state’s official resources. The Georgia General Assembly consists of the House of Representatives and the State Senate, both of which would need to pass any comprehensive privacy legislation.
Find Your Legislators: Visit the Open States website to identify your state senator and representative by entering your address[7][8]. You can also use the official Georgia.gov legislator contact page for guidance on contacting elected officials.
Georgia House of Representatives: Visit the official House website for representative contact information and committee assignments.
Georgia State Senate: Access senator contact information and track legislation through the official Senate website.
Consumer Protection
Georgia Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division: While Georgia lacks comprehensive privacy legislation, the Consumer Protection Division handles general consumer complaints and unfair business practices[5].
File complaints or seek assistance at Consumer.ga.gov, the official consumer complaint portal. You can also access consumer education resources at ConsumerEd.ga.gov.
Contact Information: The Consumer Protection Division can be reached through the official complaint system on their website or through the main Attorney General’s office contact methods listed on the official consumer protection page.
Legislative Engagement
Public Comment and Advocacy: Georgia residents can engage with the legislative process by contacting their representatives during legislative sessions, attending committee hearings when privacy bills are introduced, and participating in public comment periods for proposed legislation.
Legislative Session Information: The Georgia General Assembly meets annually for a 40-day session beginning in January. Committee meetings occur year-round to discuss proposed legislation in detail[8].
To effectively advocate for privacy legislation, residents should identify their specific legislators, reference specific bill numbers when contacting offices, and clearly state their position with supporting evidence. Multiple contacts and coordination with other constituents can increase the impact of citizen advocacy efforts[7][9].
Sources and Citations
Last Updated August 2025. Written with contributions from both human authors and Perplexity AI. If you find incorrect or outdated information let us know at support@optery.com.