Partner Steve Cosentino Quoted on COVID-19 and Data Privacy Laws

03.27.2020

Companies are increasingly having to manage privacy and confidentiality surrounding possible coronavirus diagnoses with the safety of employees who may also have been exposed. They are also wondering how the outbreak will affect general privacy compliance efforts. Partner Steve Cosentino, CIPP commented on data privacy laws and the coronavirus in Compliance Week, noting that HIPAA protections remain in place.

While certain states are easing privacy laws during the pandemic, “HIPAA has been around for quite some time,” Steve said, “and it is not surprising that we have not seen similar proclamations about some of the newer state privacy laws.”  However, shortly after the Compliance Week interview, the California Attorney General stated that COVID-19 will not delay CCPA enforcement, noted Steve.

HIPAA remains in place for employers, health care providers and health plans, which the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reiterated in a recent bulletin reminding employers of how information may be shared under the act.

Strategically positioned at the intersection of technology, finance and law, Steve negotiates technology transactions in the software, mobile, health care and FinTech industries. His primary focus is on technology related transactions and compliance, with an emphasis on software licensing and services, banking technology, data center services, outsourcing, data privacy, e-commerce, advertising, cloud computing and cybersecurity. He navigates complex mergers and acquisitions, guides corporate transactions, and facilitates complex technology and intellectual property collaborations.

Stinson's Coronavirus Task Force supports the short and long-term business needs as COVID-19 impacts companies and affects workforces and the global supply chain. The task force provides subject matter authorities as a quick-response team with current, authoritative legal guidance on the ever-changing aspects of how COVID-19 impacts business.