Data Collection Laws–US & EU

  I recently came across two good articles addressing the data privacy laws of the European Union and the data privacy laws of the United States.  The articles were published in the American Bar Association’s Law Practice Management section’s “Law Technology Today.”

John Tredennick is the author. Mr. Tredennick is a nationally recognized trial lawyer and is one of the early pioneers in litigation technology. In his articles, he discusses the various laws and penalties of data privacy in the European Union, and compares Michigan and Texas recent laws requiring computer forensics experts to qualify as private investigators. If you do computer forensics work in Michigan and you are not licensed, you are committing a felony.

Read with interest:

Collecting Data in the EU—A Few Things You Should Know Before You Jump In the Water

By John Tredennick

“The rules for collecting data in other countries are different than in the U. S. and those differences are important. If you collect the wrong data in the EU or collect the right data the wrong way, the penalties could be more severe than monetary sanctions. You might end up in jail.  Here is a look at some of the issues you face collecting data in the European Union.”

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Collecting Computer Data in the U.S.: Pick the Wrong State and You Could Wind Up in Jail

By John Tredennick

“Two states have recently enacted statutes that make it a crime for unlicensed individuals to engage in computer forensics. Texas passed a law that would give regulators the power to impose up to a year in jail and a $14,000 fine on people doing “computer investigations.” Michigan went a bit further. On May 28 th of this year, Governor Jennifer Granholm signed into law a bill that makes unlicensed computer forensics work in Michigan a felony punishable by up to a four-year prison term, damages of up to $25,000 and a criminal fine of up to $5,000.”

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Bill Lowrance

President PIAVA

Information Insights Inc McLean, VA