In our hyper-connected age, personal data is collected and shared constantly by apps, websites, devices, and governments. Not surprisingly, privacy is a major concern. In fact, a recent Pew survey found that 71% of Americans say they are very or somewhat concerned about how the government uses their data. Yet most people admit they often don’t read privacy notices 56% say they always or often click Agree without reading. This disconnect underscores why robust privacy laws matter: they define your rights and set rules for how organizations handle your information. In the US, privacy protection comes from a patchwork of sector-specific federal laws and newer state laws, rather than one overarching statute. Each law targets different data types or industries, for example, health records, children’s data, financial data, education records, and so on. Understanding these laws helps you know what rights you have and what companies must do.

Federal privacy laws

HIPAA health data privacy

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act HIPAA, 1996, and its Privacy Rule set national standards for protecting medical information. HIPAA applies to covered entities like healthcare providers, hospitals, and insurers. It requires that your protected health information PHI such as medical records, test results, diagnoses, and treatments, be kept secure and only used or disclosed for authorized purposes like treatment, billing, or with your consent. Under HIPAA, patients have the right to know how their health data is used and to request access or corrections. The Department of Health and Human Services explains that HIPAA’s Privacy Rule establishes national standards for the protection of certain health information and specifically governs the use and disclosure of individuals’ health information. In short, HIPAA means your doctor or insurer cannot share your medical records without permission except as legally required, and you have rights to understand and control how your health data is handled.

COPPA children’s online privacy

The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act COPPA, of 1998 protects kids under age 13. It requires any website, app or online service directed at children, or that knowingly collects data from them, to get verifiable parental consent before collecting personal information like name, photos, and contact info from a child. COPPA also mandates clear privacy notices, limits on data collection, and gives parents the right to review or delete their children’s data. As the Federal Trade Commission FTC explains, COPPA gives parents control over what information websites can collect from their kids. For you, this means that if you have kids under 13, a school or game app cannot legally track or register your child’s details without asking you first. Violations of COPPA can result in hefty fines for companies.

GLBA financial data

The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act GLBA, 1999 governs personal financial information. It requires banks, credit unions, insurers, and other financial firms to explain their data practices and safeguard sensitive data. Under GLBA’s Privacy Rule, these institutions must give customers a notice of their information-sharing practices and, in many cases, let customers opt out of having their data shared with unaffiliated third parties. The FTC explains: The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act requires financial institutions to explain their information-sharing practices to their customers and to safeguard sensitive data. In practice, this means your bank or insurance company has to tell you usually in a privacy notice how it collects, uses, and shares your financial data, and must keep it secure. It also gives you the right to opt out if your institution wants to share your personal financial information with marketers, unless an exception applies.

FCRA credit reporting

The Fair Credit Reporting Act FCRA, 1970 protects the privacy and accuracy of information in credit reports. It regulates credit bureaus, tenant-screening companies and similar agencies. Under FCRA, your credit report, which can contain financial, employment, and public record info, cannot be given to anyone without a permissible purpose e.g. a lender reviewing your loan application. The FCRA also requires credit agencies and those furnishing information to them to ensure accuracy. If an action like denying credit or employment is taken based on a credit report, the user must notify you and explain why. According to the FTC report the FCRA protects information collected by consumer reporting agencies, such as credit bureaus and forbids disclosure to anyone not authorized by the Act. In essence, FCRA means your credit information has legal protections: you can dispute errors, your report can only be accessed for valid reasons, and you must be informed if it’s used to take adverse action against you.

ECPA communications privacy

The Electronic Communications Privacy Act ECPA, 1986 amended by the Stored Communications Act, restricts unauthorized interception or access of electronic communications. It updated the old Wiretap Act to cover modern communications. Under ECPA, it’s generally illegal for anyone, including private parties to intercept or access your emails, phone calls, texts, or other digital messages without proper authorization. Importantly, ECPA protects communications while they are in transit, being sent and even when stored. As the U.S. The Department of Justice explains, ECPA protects wire, oral, and electronic communications while those communications are being made, are in transit, and when they are stored on computers. In practical terms, this law means your email or voicemails are legally shielded. Your internet provider or email service generally cannot hand them over to others without following specific legal procedures. Law enforcement agencies can sometimes get stored messages with a court order or subpoena, but ECPA still imposes rules about notice and consent.

VPPA video viewing history

The Video Privacy Protection Act VPPA, 1988 protects the privacy of video viewing histories. It was originally passed after a Supreme Court nominee’s VHS rental history was publicly released. VPPA prohibits video tape service providers from disclosing a consumer’s video rental or streaming history without consent. For example, your Netflix or Hulu viewing data cannot be shared with other companies or the public unless you agree. Violations carry liability for damages. In short, VPPA means your movie and TV watching history is treated as sensitive information, companies can’t hand it to others outside the ordinary course of business unless you’ve been notified and have consented. The law was updated in 2013 to allow electronic consent and to modernize terms, but its core is the same: your video-viewing data is private unless you agree otherwise.

DPPA driver’s license records

The Driver’s Privacy Protection Act DPPA, 1994 governs personal information held by state Departments of Motor Vehicles DMVs. It was enacted after several incidents where stalkers used DMV records to find people’s addresses. DPPA generally forbids DMVs from releasing personal info like your home address or SSN that they collect in your driving record. Any disclosure must fall under limited exceptions for example, for law enforcement, vehicle recalls, or insurance purposes and often requires consent. The law also allows individuals to sue over violations. The Electronic Privacy Information Center summarizes: DPPA prohibits the release or use by any State DMV of personal information about an individual obtained by the department in connection with a motor vehicle record, and requires states to obtain permission before selling DMV data to third parties. Essentially, DPPA means your name, address and other personal details held by your state DMV cannot be sold or given out to marketing companies or strangers without your OK.

FERPA student education records

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act FERPA, 1974 protects student education records. It applies to public or private schools that receive federal funds. FERPA gives parents or students over 18 the right to inspect and review school records, and to request corrections of inaccuracies. Schools generally must get written permission from the parent or eligible student before releasing any personally identifiable information from education records. In practice, this means your grades, transcripts, disciplinary records and health records at school are private: a school can’t release them without consent except in specified cases like health/safety emergencies or subpoenas. Schools that violate FERPA risk losing federal funding. According to the CDC , FERPA is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. Under FERPA, you have the right to see those records and to prevent the school from sharing them with others without your consent.

Federal Privacy Act government records

The Privacy Act of 1974 regulates how federal agencies handle records about individuals. It establishes fair information practices for any personal data that a federal agency maintains in a system of records where you can be identified. The Act generally requires agencies to give the public notice of their record systems and prohibits disclosure of personal records without the individual’s written consent, subject to certain exceptions. It also gives individuals the right to request access to their records held by agencies and to seek corrections. In short, the Privacy Act means that if a federal government office like the IRS, Social Security or any agency holds your personal data, they must follow strict rules: you must be informed of how data is used, and your records generally can’t be shared or released without your OK. This law does not cover private companies or state governments, only U.S. federal agencies.

FTC Act & other laws general protections

There is no single U.S. law like Europe’s GDPR covering all personal data. Instead, enforcement often relies on the Federal Trade Commission Act FTC Act and various other federal statutes. The FTC Act broadly outlaws unfair or deceptive business practices. The FTC interprets privacy missteps like breaking a company’s privacy promise or failing to secure data as falling under this ban. As a Global Insights report the FTC Act broadly empowers the U.S. Federal Trade Commission to bring enforcement actions to protect consumers against unfair or deceptive practices, and that covers privacy practices as well. For example, if a company promises not to share your data but does so secretly, the FTC can step in. In addition, other narrower federal laws provide privacy protections in specific areas like COPPA for children, GLBA for finance, etc., as noted above. All told, at the national level, Americans rely on a patchwork of sector laws plus FTC enforcement rather than one unified law.

State privacy laws

In recent years, many U.S. states have passed their own privacy and data protection laws. These often grant residents rights similar to Europe’s privacy model. Some key state laws include:

  • California CCPA/CPRA 2020/2023: The California Consumer Privacy Act CCPA of 2018 amended by the California Privacy Rights Act in 2023 is the most far-reaching. It gives California residents rights to know, delete, and opt out of the sale of their personal data, plus a right to non-discrimination for exercising these rights. Specifically, consumers can ask a business what personal information it has collected about them and how it’s used, request deletion of that data with exceptions, and tell companies not to sell or share their data. Starting Jan 1, 2023, the CPRA added more protections e.g. a right to correct inaccurate data and to limit use of sensitive personal info like health, biometrics or precise geolocation. Companies subject to CCPA/CPRA must respond to such consumer requests and provide detailed privacy notices. In practice, Californians can access or delete a lot of their data from companies, and cannot be penalized e.g. charged a higher price for exercising these rights.
  • Virginia CDPA 2023: The Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act took effect Jan 1, 2023. It grants Virginia residents rights to confirm if a business is processing their personal data, to correct errors, delete data, obtain a copy of their data, and opt out of targeted advertising, the sale of data, or profiling. These rights apply when a business meets certain thresholds e.g. processing data of 100,000+ Virginians. The CDPA is similar in spirit to the CCPA/CPRA; it lets Virginians control and correct their data, and limits unwanted uses of their data especially for ads.
  • Colorado Privacy Act 2023: Effective July 1, 2023, the Colorado Privacy Act grants similar rights to Colorado residents. Under CPA, consumers can access, correct, delete and export their personal data held by businesses, and can opt out of sale, targeted ads and profiling. Colorado’s law also requires opt-in consent for processing sensitive data. In general, the emerging trend in state laws is the same: rights to know, delete and opt-out. As one legal analysis points out, the Colorado Privacy Act like the Virginia CDPA and CPRA provides consumers with the right to correct inaccuracies in personal data held by a business and a right to delete.
  • Other State Laws: Several other states have passed or are enacting privacy laws. For example, Washington and Utah 2023 and Connecticut 2023 each enacted comprehensive consumer privacy acts similar to VA/CO. Many states like Florida, Montana, Indiana, etc. in 2023 have also passed privacy bills. These all generally build on the model of giving rights to consumers to access, delete, opt-out, restrict processing of sensitive info. Some states have limited data privacy laws e.g. Nevada’s opt-out law, or New York’s privacy law limited to data brokers, but the trend is toward broader protections.
  • Illinois Biometric Privacy BIPA, 2008: Illinois was first to legislate on biometric data. The Biometric Information Privacy Act requires companies that collect biometric identifiers fingerprints, facial geometry, iris scans, voiceprints, etc. to have a publicly available retention policy and to obtain written consent before collection. In other words, your employer or a business can’t scan your fingerprint or face without first notifying you in writing how long they’ll keep it and getting your written OK. BIPA is notable for allowing individuals to sue violators, leading to many high-profile class actions. A handful of other states are considering similar biometric laws, but IL’s BIPA remains the gold standard for biometric data privacy.
  • New York SHIELD Act 2019: The Stop Hacks and Improve Electronic Data Security SHIELD Act strengthened New York’s data security laws. It does not create new consumer rights per se, but expands security requirements for businesses. SHIELD broadened the definition of private information to include biometric data and online account credentials, and requires businesses of any size to implement reasonable administrative, technical and physical safeguards to protect any personal data they hold. It also expanded breach-notification rules: companies must notify affected consumers and state authorities in the event of a data breach involving any private information not just SSN, etc.. In short, SHIELD means New York residents get extra protection: any company that handles their data must meet heightened security standards and promptly inform them if their data is exposed.
  • Data Breach Notification Laws All States: Every U.S. state has a law requiring companies to notify individuals if their personal data is breached. The specifics vary, but generally any business that suffers unauthorized access to unencrypted personal information must alert affected consumers and often the state attorney general. For example, the ICLG report notes that every state has adopted data breach notification legislation, and companies must comply even if they don’t have a physical presence in that state. These laws mean that if a retailer or hospital is hacked and your data leaks, the law requires you to be notified. Federal law also has some breach rules in certain sectors, but the state laws cover nearly all personal data.

What these laws mean for you

Taken together, these laws give you specific privacy rights and protections over different types of personal data. Here are some of the key consumer rights under U.S. privacy laws:

  • Right to Know/Access: You can request and obtain information about what personal data companies have collected about you. For example, under California’s CCPA you can ask a business to disclose the categories or specific pieces of personal information it has collected about you, where it came from, and why it’s used. Similarly, many state laws let you request copies of your data and a list of its uses.
  • Right to Delete Erasure: You can ask businesses to delete the personal information they’ve collected from you. California’s CCPA explicitly grants a right to have your data erased with certain exceptions. Likewise, laws like Virginia’s CDPA, Colorado’s CPA and others provide the right to delete your personal data. This means you can tell a company to erase my data and they must comply unless they have a valid legal reason to keep it.
  • Right to Correct: You have the right to correct inaccuracies in your personal information. For example, under the Virginia and Colorado laws, you can request a business to correct any wrong data it holds about you. Even some credit and medical laws FCRA, HIPAA allow correcting errors. Essentially, if a company has your old address or misspelled name, you can ask them to fix it.
  • Right to Portability: Many newer laws allow you to obtain a copy of your data in a portable format. The CCPA and laws in Virginia/Colorado/Connecticut give you a data portability right you can get your personal information and potentially transfer it to another service. For instance, you might request that a social media site hand over your profile data in a useful format.
  • Right to Opt-Out of Sale/Sharing: Under laws like CCPA and CPRA and some state laws, you can tell companies to stop selling or sharing your personal information. California residents can expressly opt out of the sale of their data and even sharing via certain programs. Virginia and Colorado extend this by letting you opt out of targeted advertising and profiling. In plain terms, you can instruct businesses not to trade or use your data for ads and marketing.
  • Right to Restrict Targeted Ads/Profiling: Many recent privacy laws VA, CO, CT etc. give you the right to limit how companies use your data for targeted advertising or profiling. This means you can disable algorithms that would show you personalized ads or make automated decisions like credit offers based on your data, except where necessary for a service.
  • Right to Non-Discrimination: These laws generally prohibit companies from discriminating against you for exercising your privacy rights. For example, under CCPA/CPRA a business cannot charge you more or refuse service just because you asked to delete your data or opted out of data sales. You must be treated equally whether or not you exercise your rights.
  • Right to Security: Several laws impose security obligations on companies, indirectly protecting you. HIPAA, GLBA, and New York’s SHIELD Act, for instance, require businesses to put in place appropriate security measures encryption, access controls, etc. to safeguard your data. While this isn’t a right you can directly enforce, it means companies must reasonably protect your data from breaches or misuse.
  • Right to Breach Notification: If a company that holds your data suffers a breach, state breach notification laws and sometimes federal ones entitle you to be notified. You’ll be informed if your name, SSN, medical data or other personal info was exposed, so you can take protective action.
  • Specific Sector Rights: In some areas, you have additional rights. For example, HIPAA gives patients the right to access and obtain copies of their medical records. The FCRA allows you to argue mistakes on your credit report and fix them. COPPA lets parents ask for their kid’s info to be deleted. These specific rights mean things like credit info and kids’ data get extra protection.

Most U.S. privacy laws usually let regulators or customers, not just anyone, enforce the rules. You usually complain to an agency, like the FTC or your state’s attorney general, or maybe join a group lawsuit. Knowing what you can do means you can push companies to follow the law. You can bring up these laws when you talk to a company’s privacy people, or even sue them if the law specifically lets you, like with the IL BIPA or some other state laws.

Protecting your privacy in practice

Understanding these laws is one thing, exercising your privacy rights and using good practices is another. Here are some practical takeaways:

  • Exercise Your Rights: If you live in California, Virginia, Colorado or another state with consumer data rights, use them! Many companies have web forms where you can request access or deletion of your data. For example, ask online services what data they hold on you or send opt-out requests. If you feel a company violated your privacy e.g. leaked your data or misused it, you can complain to the FTC for many violations or to your state attorney general’s office e.g. California’s AG for CCPA issues.
  • Read Privacy Policies: It sounds obvious, but those long privacy policies explain what a company does with your data. Even though many people skip them as noted, 56% do, skimming key parts can clue you into data sharing practices. For instance, see if an app says it shares data with marketers.
  • Secure Your Data: Beyond laws, use tools to protect yourself. For example, a VPN Virtual Private Network encrypts your internet traffic. The VPN provider recommends using encryption to guard data on public Wi-Fi or avoid tracking by ISPs. Similarly, use strong, unique passwords a password manager helps, enable multi-factor authentication, and regularly update your devices. These steps complement legal protections, they make it harder for hackers or snoops to misuse your information even if it’s collected.
  • Limit Unnecessary Data Sharing: Be cautious about giving out personal information. If an app or site asks for data that seems unrelated to its function, question why. Use browser privacy settings or ad blockers to limit tracking. For example, most browsers and mobile OSes now do not track or limit ad tracking toggles, enabling those to reduce profiling.
  • Keep Software Updated: Many data breaches happen through security flaws. Install updates for your operating system and apps promptly. Companies required by law to implement reasonable safeguards like the NY SHIELD Act requires do not matter if your own device is vulnerable.
  • Stay Informed: Privacy laws change. New state laws like in Virginia, Colorado, etc. may apply to you. Follow trusted privacy news sources or newsletters to know what new rights you have. For instance, a few states have broad privacy laws that go into effect in 2024–2025, if you move or travel, those laws might become relevant.

Privacy laws are all about giving you power and keeping your information safe. They make corporations have to play square with your information and give you control over what they can or cannot do with it. They are not a magic bullet, though. You still need to be clever about what you do with your information and the tools you utilize. The best you can do to keep your own things safe on the internet is to employ your legal rights and technology resources like VPNs.

Privacy in America is a compilation of all sorts of different legislation. There’s HIPAA for health data, COPPA for minors, GLBA for financial things, and so on. Some states, California and Virginia, to name a couple, give you even more control. Knowing these laws makes you conscious of what you can do and how companies need to behave. So, use your rights! Demand to see your data or have it deleted, tell companies not to pass on your details if you do not want them to, and make sure that they are keeping it secure. Add that to being careful about your privacy, and your information ought to be pretty safe, thanks to the legislation and to your own diligence.