Maryland Attorney General Joins Coalition in Urging Congress to Reconsider Federal Data Privacy Proposal

Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown has joined a coalition of 18 attorneys general and state agencies in opposing the proposed SECURE Data Act, a federal data privacy bill currently under consideration in Congress. The coalition argues that the legislation would preempt state privacy and cybersecurity laws, including the Maryland Online Data Privacy Act and similar laws in other states. According to the attorneys general, the bill could affect state authority over data privacy standards, consumer protections, and enforcement measures. In a letter to Congress, the coalition urged lawmakers to preserve states’ ability to maintain existing privacy laws and enact future legislation addressing emerging technology and data collection practices. Brown was joined by attorneys general from Delaware and several other states, as well as the California Privacy Protection Agency and the Hawaiʻi Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.