Privacy Law Status

Your Rights as a Massachusetts Resident

Under the proposed comprehensive privacy legislation currently being considered, Massachusetts residents would gain significant new rights regarding their personal information.

• Right to know what data is collected: Companies would be required to clearly disclose what personal information they collect about you, how it’s used, and with whom it’s shared
• Right to delete personal information: You could request that companies delete personal information they have collected about you, with certain exceptions for necessary business operations
• Right to opt out of data sales: Companies would be prohibited from selling your personal information without your explicit consent, and you could opt out of such sales
• Right to correct inaccurate data: You could request that companies fix incorrect personal information they maintain about you
• Right to non-discrimination: Companies could not discriminate against you for exercising your privacy rights, such as by denying services or charging higher prices

These rights would only become available if and when comprehensive privacy legislation is enacted into law. Currently, Massachusetts residents have limited privacy rights under existing consumer protection and data security laws[1].

Business Requirements

The proposed privacy legislation would impose significant new obligations on companies that collect personal information from Massachusetts residents.

• Coverage thresholds: The main bill (S 2516) would apply to businesses processing personal data of 25,000 or more Massachusetts consumers or deriving revenue from data sales, effectively capturing most data brokers
• Enhanced transparency: Companies would need to provide clear privacy notices explaining their data practices, with separate policies required for sensitive information like precise location data and biometrics
• Consumer request handling: Businesses would be required to establish accessible mechanisms for consumers to exercise their rights, including identity verification procedures and timely response requirements
• Data protection assessments: Companies would need to conduct and submit formal risk assessments to the Massachusetts Attorney General for high-risk data processing activities
• Data broker registration: Data brokers would face additional requirements including annual registration and maintaining deletion mechanisms for consumers

Practical Impact

• Daily digital life protection: The proposed laws would give you more control over the personal information collected through websites, apps, and digital services you use regularly, including the ability to stop companies from selling your location data and browsing history
• Enforcement options: Unlike many other states, the proposed Massachusetts legislation includes a private right of action, meaning you could sue companies directly for privacy violations rather than relying solely on government enforcement[5][9]
• Current limitations: Without comprehensive legislation in place, Massachusetts residents currently have limited recourse for privacy violations beyond existing consumer protection laws, and must rely primarily on the Attorney General’s office for enforcement of data security requirements

Comparison Context

• Catching up to leading states: Massachusetts is working to join states like California, Virginia, Colorado, and Connecticut that have already enacted comprehensive privacy laws, with the proposed legislation incorporating strong provisions similar to or exceeding those in other states[2][10]
• Stronger enforcement mechanisms: The proposed Massachusetts bills would include private rights of action and data broker regulations that go beyond what many other states provide, potentially making Massachusetts among the strongest privacy protection states if enacted[5][11]
• Current gap in protection: Massachusetts residents currently lack many basic privacy rights available to residents of other states, such as the ability to access, delete, or control the sale of their personal information by most companies

Action Steps for Residents

• Stay informed: Monitor the progress of privacy legislation through the Massachusetts Legislature website and follow updates from advocacy organizations supporting strong privacy protections
• Contact your representatives: Reach out to your state senator and representative to express support for comprehensive privacy legislation, particularly bills like S 2516 that include strong consumer protections
• Use existing protections: While waiting for comprehensive legislation, take advantage of current Massachusetts data security laws by reporting data breaches to the Attorney General’s office and understanding your rights under existing consumer protection statutes
• Practice digital privacy: Implement personal privacy measures such as reviewing privacy settings on social media platforms, using strong passwords, and being selective about the personal information you share online

Official Resources and Contact Information

Massachusetts Legislature

To find your specific state senator and representative and contact them about privacy legislation, use the Massachusetts Legislature’s official legislator finder tool at https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator. You can search by entering your street address to identify your legislators and find their contact information.

General contact information for the Massachusetts Legislature:

State House, 24 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02133
Phone: (617) 722-2000

Privacy Legislation Status

Track the progress of current privacy bills through the Massachusetts Legislature website:

• S 2516 (Massachusetts Data Privacy Act): https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S2516
• H 78 (Massachusetts Consumer Data Privacy Act): https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H78
• H 80 (Comprehensive Massachusetts Consumer Data Privacy Act): https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H80

Attorney General’s Office

For reporting privacy violations under current Massachusetts law and consumer protection issues:

Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell
One Ashburton Place, Boston, MA 02108
Consumer Hotline: (617) 727-8400
Online complaint form: https://www.mass.gov/how-to/file-a-consumer-complaint

Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation

For questions about data breaches and current data protection requirements:

One Federal Street, Suite 720, Boston, MA 02110
Consumer Hotline: (617) 973-8787 or toll-free 1-888-283-3757
Website: https://www.mass.gov/orgs/office-of-consumer-affairs-and-business-regulation

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.