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DEED Offers Updated Legal Guide to Privacy and Data Security

5/9/2016

ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) has teamed up with the law firm of Gray Plant Mooty to publish the second edition of “A Legal Guide to Privacy and Data Security,” a free booklet for Minnesota businesses.

“We are pleased to present this guide to help Minnesota businesses,” said DEED Commissioner Shawntera Hardy. “The publication addresses important issues that businesses must know to succeed in an increasingly competitive and global business market.”

“A Legal Guide to Privacy and Data Security” offers guidance on a variety of privacy and data security-related laws, the impact of such laws on businesses, and best practices to mitigate risks. It covers key federal privacy and data security laws, Minnesota privacy laws, and privacy issues in the workplace, as well as compliance with global privacy and data security laws.

According to Michael Cohen, principal at Gray Plant Mooty and primary author of the guide, there have been significant legal developments since publication of the first edition, including approval of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and invalidation of the EU-U.S. Safe Harbor Framework, relied upon by thousands of U.S. companies to support cross-border data transfers.

”The GDPR creates new obligations for businesses that offer goods and services to EU residents, with new enforcement mechanisms, and severe penalties for noncompliance. The loss of the Safe Harbor program and unknown status of its replacement Privacy Shield create additional global compliance issues for Minnesota businesses,” Cohen said.

The potential impact of the GDPR, Privacy Shield and other key developments are covered in the new guide.

The guide is available on DEED’s website and also available in print or CD-ROM from DEED’s Small Business Assistance Office at 651-259-7476, 800-310-8323 or deed.mnsbao@state.mn.us. Requests also can be mailed to the Small Business Assistance Office at the First National Bank Building, 332 Minnesota St., Suite E-200, St. Paul, MN 55101-1351.

Copies also are available on Gray Plant Mooty’s website at gpmlaw.com or by mailing or phoning requests to Michael Cohen, 612-632-3345, Gray Plant Mooty, 500 IDS Center, 80 S. Eighth St., Minneapolis, MN 55402. Click here to view the latest edition of the guide.

DEED is the state’s principal economic development agency, promoting business recruitment, expansion and retention, workforce development, international trade and community development. For more details about the agency and our services, visit us at the DEED website (http://mn.gov/deed) or go to our Twitter account (http://twitter.com/mndeed).

Gray Plant Mooty is recognized as one of the leading corporate law firms in Minnesota. The firm’s roots go back to 1866. Today, Gray Plant Mooty is a 180-attorney, full-service firm with offices in Minneapolis and St. Cloud; Washington, D.C.; and Fargo, N.D.