Enforcement Authority

A government body with legal power to investigate privacy violations, impose penalties, and compel compliance with privacy laws. Enforcement authorities vary by jurisdiction and legal framework. Examples include data protection authorities under GDPR, state attorneys general for state privacy laws, the Federal Trade Commission for U.S. federal consumer protection, sector-specific regulators like HHS for HIPAA, and the California Privacy Protection Agency for CPRA. These authorities can investigate complaints, conduct audits, issue guidance, order corrective measures, impose fines, and pursue legal action. Some privacy laws allow only regulatory enforcement, while others include private rights of action. Organizations should identify which enforcement authorities have jurisdiction over their activities, monitor guidance and enforcement priorities, establish relationships with authorities where appropriate, respond promptly to inquiries, and take enforcement actions against others as learning opportunities. Enforcement authority powers and approaches vary significantly across jurisdictions.