Massachusetts Attorney General Creates New Privacy Division

Massachusetts companies will have to deal with a new division within the state’s attorney general office focused on privacy and security issues.

The Data Privacy and Security Division will be tasked with investigating companies that may flout the state’s consumer protection and data breach laws, the office of state Attorney General Maura Healey (D) announced.

State attorneys general across the country are focusing on privacy and security issues, including with investigations into Facebook Inc. and data security settlements with Equifax Inc.

The new division “will build on our office’s commitment to empowering Massachusetts consumers in the digital economy, ensuring that companies are protecting personal data, and promoting equal and open access to the internet,” Healey said in a statement.

Sara Cable is set to serve as the chief of the new division. Cable previously served as a director of data privacy and security within the office’s consumer protection division, and spearheaded multiple cybersecurity and privacy probes.

Cable, a former litigation associate at Bingham MucCutchen LLP prior to joining the office in 2011, also led the team that obtained $18.2 million from Equifax for their 2017 data breach.