What is a breach notification law?

A breach notification law is a legal requirement that businesses and organizations inform customers, clients, members, and other impacted individuals when their personal information has been compromised by a data security breach. In Washington State, this law is called the Washington Data Breach Notification Act, which was passed in 2005. Under the Washington Data Breach Notification Act, organizations must provide notice to any individuals whose personal information has been accessed in an unauthorized manner. This law is wide-reaching—it applies to any organization or individual in the state, including both public and private entities. The law also applies to any organization that owns, stores, handles, or transmits personal information. This means banks, retailers, hospitality companies, healthcare facilities, and any other organization that collects personal information must comply with the notification law. Examples of personal information that fall under this law include social security numbers, bank account numbers, driver’s license numbers, and credit card numbers. The breach notification law also requires organizations to put in place reasonable procedures and safeguards to protect individuals’ personal information. Organizations must provide notification as soon as possible, so that individuals can take timely action to protect themselves from any potential identity theft or other misuse of their information. Organizations should also provide information about steps that individuals can take to protect their information, and provide free credit monitoring services for those affected by the breach.

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