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Financial Services Law Insights and Observations

Virginia enacts comprehensive consumer data privacy framework

State Issues State Legislation Privacy/Cyber Risk & Data Security Consumer Data Protection Act Virginia VCDPA

State Issues

On March 2, the Virginia governor enacted the Consumer Data Protection Act (VCDPA), which establishes a framework for controlling and processing consumers’ personal data in the Commonwealth. Virginia is now the second state in the nation to enact a comprehensive consumer privacy law. In 2018, California became the first state to put in place significant consumer data privacy measures (covered by a Buckley Special Alert). As previously covered by InfoBytes, under the VCDPA, consumers will be able to access their personal data; make corrections; request deletion of their data; obtain a copy of their data in a portable format; and opt out of targeted advertising, sale of their data, or “profiling in furtherance of decisions that produce legal or similarly significant effects concerning the consumer.” The VCDPA also outlines controller responsibilities, including a requirement that, among other things, controllers must enter into data processing agreements with data processors that outline instructions for processing personal data and require the deletion or return of personal data once a service is concluded. While the VCDPA explicitly prohibits a private right of action, it does grant the state attorney general excusive authority to enforce the law and seek penalties of no more than $7,500 per violation. Additionally, upon discovering a potential violation of the VCDPA, the attorney general must give the data controller written notice and allow the data controller 30 days to cure the alleged violation before the attorney general can file suit. The VCDPA takes effect January 1, 2023.