Federal Privacy Bill Poses Enforcement Questions for Litigators

New landmark federal privacy legislation years in the making would set the stage for a new era of privacy litigation in courts across the country.

If enacted, the American Privacy Rights Act, unveiled April 7, would be the first comprehensive federal privacy law and usher in new privacy rights, including the ability to directly sue companies for alleged violations.

“It’s stronger than anything we’re seeing on the state level right now, maybe with the exception of California’s private right of action under data breaches,” said Austin Mooney, a partner at McDermott Will & Emery.

The bill, which would also ...