Walter Wildman works as an Attorney in Indiana and is an expert in online data protection. In the following article, Walter Michael Wildman unravels the crucial components of cutting-edge online data protection toolkits, providing invaluable insights for individuals and businesses alike looking to fortify their digital fortresses.

Almost every country has passed some sort of data privacy law to prohibit the unjust collection of information and outline the control people have over their data. Businesses must follow applicable laws, or they face hefty fines, lawsuits, and even site takedowns. However, general internet users must also be aware of the laws to understand their data protection rights.

Walter Michael Wildman explains that the underlying philosophy of such laws in the United States of America has remained relatively stagnant since the initial technology boom. However, 2023 marks a pivotal shift, reigniting the necessity to remain abreast of the details to safeguard personal online information.

Walter Wildman Attorney Says 2023 is a Transformative Year for US Data Privacy Laws

As history attests, data privacy laws in the nation have been harms-prevention-based statements that seek to mitigate or prevent harms in various sectors. However, the European Union’s implementation of GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) has taken a broader, rights-based approach to the matter, giving individuals the ability to own their information and hold the legal rights to control it.

This year, five states are set to take a GDPR-inspired approach — a move that many hope will spread throughout the country, giving Americans in all states near-equal rights to Europeans.

Walter Michael Wildman notes that the implications of this fundamental evolution will have profound effects on the philosophical framework as time ticks forward, with 2023 marking the shift’s ignition. While the US has historically granted businesses and other entities the permission to collect personal data without consent, only regulating certain sectors (e.g., education, medical, legal, etc.), the new iterations of the law will turn this on its head.

Paralleling GDPR Rights

Walter Wildman of Indiana says that California, Connecticut, Colorado, Virginia, and Utah will start enforcing GDPR-esque statutes this year, paralleling the rights within the European law, including:

• Access — People have the right to ask for access to their personal data.
• Correction — People can request that errors within the data are corrected.
• Portability — People can ask that their personal information be provided/moved to another entity.
• Erasure — People have the right to ask that their personal information be removed.
• Consent — People can decide whether they want their information to be sold or used for targeted ads.
• Appeal — People can appeal an entity’s denial of their request.

Despite many requests, there is yet to be a federal law that governs digital privacy across the country. The American Data Privacy and Protection Act got the furthest in Congress, but to no avail. Still, the work done by state-level entities proves progress is well on its way.

Walter Michael Wildman explains that in fact, the first half of 2023 saw the Data Care Act and the Online Privacy Act be introduced within the 118th Congress, establishing a range of business obligations and consumer rights. The bills are reintroductions and modifications of legislation that came out in previous years.

Experts Urge People to Follow Best Practices to Protect Their Online Privacy

As the digital privacy law landscape continues to shift as this year edges toward its close, experts emphasize the importance of users staying safe online and protecting their private information. By following professionally provided tips and tricks, web surfers can minimize the likelihood of their data landing in the wrong hands.

Reducing Online Sharing for Enhanced Protection

Sharing less information is the best safeguarding measure to take. Paying extra attention to geotagged social posts, images (including selfies), and other details allows people to take action if they showcase sensitive data.

Walter Wildman Attorney says that email lists are frequently sold or rented on the Dark Web. Thus, Wildman recommends establishing a disposable email address to ensure money and other information isn’t stolen. As per their suggestions, signing up to newsletters and subscription services should be done through a throw-away address for maximum safety.

Intensifying Online Account Privacy Protocols

Walter Wildman of Indiana explains that sites’ default settings often favor data collection over protection. So, it’s up to users to be stringent when creating accounts by:

• Being particular about which details are public and which are private.
• Acknowledging that comments, likes, and shares are often made public, even for accounts deemed private.

While poring through account privacy settings may not be anybody’s idea of a good time, cybersecurity experts note that it can be the difference between keeping information safe and letting it run rampant in a digitally public space.