2024 is poised to be a pivotal year for data privacy, with discussions on potential AI regulation continuing among business leaders and policymakers. The upcoming year will undoubtedly keep those responsible for monitoring new privacy laws or proposed policies at the global, national, and state levels on their toes, especially given the complexities surrounding issues like AI and competition.
Google’s decision to phase out third-party cookies aligns with ongoing regulatory talks. As the company initiates testing of its new Tracking Protection feature on January 4, which aims to block third-party cookies and limit cross-site tracking, the full deprecation is scheduled for the latter half of 2024.
The landscape also reflects escalating tensions between private entities and competitors, exemplified by cases like Epic Games’ legal battles against Apple and Google over alleged antitrust practices. While Epic contends that both app stores engage in anticompetitive behavior, Apple and Google argue that their store policies prioritize user privacy and security.
Despite the similarities among many new state privacy laws, variations in legislation pose fresh compliance challenges, as highlighted by Jane Horvath, an attorney at Gibson Dunn. Horvath, formerly Apple’s chief privacy officer, emphasizes the need for a standardized approach to privacy regulations across borders to facilitate global business operations, citing the complexity of adhering to diverse privacy laws.
The readiness of businesses to navigate the evolving privacy landscape varies, with a survey by Womble Bond Dickinson revealing a decline in executives feeling adequately prepared to address U.S. laws and regulations. This underscores the importance of staying abreast of state-specific privacy laws and understanding their nuances to ensure compliance.
Looking ahead to 2024, key issues on the horizon include the implementation of new privacy regulations in several states and the potential impact of forthcoming laws on data protection, AI governance, and competition policy. The evolving regulatory environment underscores the need for businesses to adapt and prioritize privacy compliance in the face of increasing scrutiny and complexity.
