Countdown to Data Privacy Day 2026 - What's On the Horizon: 2026 Data Privacy Trends That Will Redefine Compliance
In 2026, organizations will face a markedly more complex privacy and cybersecurity landscape. Numerous individual states continue to expand substantive requirements, federal regulators are asserting broader enforcement authority and emerging technologies are reshaping compliance expectations. This alert previews the privacy compliance developments most likely to affect businesses in the coming year and outlines practical implications for compliance and risk management. 1. Expansion of State Privacy Laws and Accelerated Enforcement With the addition of Indiana, Kentucky and Rhode Island’s new statutes on Jan. 1, 2026, a total of 20 states have comprehensive consumer privacy laws in effect. Although these laws share many structural similarities, their divergent definitions, exemptions and rights create operational challenges for any organization handling data across multiple jurisdictions. Unsurprisingly, California remains the most demanding privacy jurisdiction. Its newly effecti...