LUFKIN, Texas (KTRE) – With the start of a new year, many new laws are going into effect.
One of those is an addition to an existing law that gives consumers more privacy when visiting websites.
“I think we’ve all joked about the idea that I’ve just had a conversation about boy those new pickups look really good and the next time I get on the internet, I’m seeing advertisements for specific pickup. And that’s scary,” Sam Johnson, an attorney and managing partner with Mike Love and Associates.
A new law allows consumers to opt out of information collection through their computer, phone, and browser settings while still having full access to the website and services.
“You’ve probably had the experience before where you go on a website and a little dialogue box pops up that says we would like to collect information, if you block them some websites that’s it you can’t go any further,” Johnson said.
It will apply to company websites that collect personal information then sell it to a third party. Johnson said mostly the big companies that appeal to consumers across the nation.
It’s an addition to House Bill 4, the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act that went into effect last year. However, this new addition focuses on business and commerce. You select privacy settings on your computer, phone or browser, and it blocks the website from collecting your data.
“This gives you the option of staying more private but still being able to access the website,” Johnson said.
Texas isn’t the only state with this type of law; there are at least 10 with a similar law, a couple of those being California and Virginia. Johnson said the different laws are making trouble for website owners.
“If every single state has their own privacy policy, own initiatives, and their own requirements it’s going to be very, very hard to implement each states rules especially if they contradict,” Johnson said.
There are times when the law might not be effective; for instance, if the website is not able to recognize that you’re in Texas or if the website doesn’t have the ability to recognize your devices settings.
Overall, Johnson says the law will protect everyday consumers in the long run.
“For those people, this gives them a mechanism by which they can try to monitor and even enforce what information is out there about them,” Johnson said.
According to the bill, if not in compliance with the law the Attorney General can prosecute. You can read the law in its entirety here.
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