Online Shopping, Pandemic Elevate Legal Risk for E-Retailers

As consumers opt for online purchases in lieu of crowded malls and long in-store lines during the coronavirus-impacted Thanksgiving holiday, the threat of data breaches and digital malfeasance looms large, cybersecurity experts and attorneys say.

“It’s an opportune time for bad actors, conducting an attack while the victim is distracted with eating turkey and watching football,” said David Springer, an attorney at Bracewell LLP in Austin, Texas.

Aside from causing headaches for consumers, cyberattacks tied to e-commerce sites or mobile applications could open businesses up to legal liability in the form of lawsuits or regulatory enforcement actions.

Companies should take ...