Analyzing the State of Privacy in the Post-2024 Election Era

Analyzing the State of Privacy in the Post-2024 Election Era

After November 2024, the U.S. privacy debate hit a decisive phase: more data, more tracking, and a patchwork of stronger (but uneven) state laws.

TL;DR

  • Data collection is expanding faster than rules can contain it—especially for marginalized groups.
  • Since late 2024, several state privacy laws took effect (TX, FL, OR, DE). California advanced new AI/cyber/risk regulations; federal net neutrality was restored in 2024 then vacated by a federal appeals court in Jan 2025, while some states continue to enforce their own neutrality laws.
  • We need accountability + practical protections: clearer disclosures, real opt-outs, and enforcement that doesn’t leave people behind.

What changed since late 2024

  • Texas: Texas Data Privacy and Security Act in force (July 1, 2024).
  • Florida: Digital Bill of Rights in force (July 1, 2024) for large entities.
  • Oregon: Oregon Consumer Privacy Act effective (July 1, 2024; nonprofits July 1, 2025).
  • Delaware: Personal Data Privacy Act effective (January 1, 2025).
  • California: CPRA in force; 2025 CPPA regs advancing on cybersecurity audits, risk assessments, and automated decisionmaking (ADMT).
  • Net neutrality: FCC restored rules (Apr 2024), later vacated by the Sixth Circuit (Jan 2025); state rules (e.g., CA) persist.

Intrusion of Privacy

The digital economy runs on behavioral data. People routinely store DNA, health facts, calendars, and financial details in third-party cloud services with long, unread privacy policies. The unresolved question: to whom does this data truly belong—and what are the long-term plans for it?

Racial and Social Inequality in Data Collection

Surveillance and data extraction tend to burden low-income and marginalized communities more, while those same groups remain underrepresented in datasets used to design safeguards. Limited access to privacy tools and legal literacy compounds harm.

Accountability and Governance Gaps

AI accelerates large-scale processing while oversight lags. Without robust governance—clear logs, audits, and redress—opacity breeds distrust and the potential for abuse grows.

Regulation and Privacy Protections

The Fourth Amendment restrains government, not companies; once data is shared with a private service, constitutional protections are limited (with some modern carve-outs). Sectoral laws (CCPA/CPRA, state privacy acts, health/finance rules) help, but disclosures are often dense and confusing—functionally undermining consent.

Extremism, Data Discrimination, and Public Benefit

Anonymized data can advance public health and safety, but collection skewed toward the easiest-to-capture populations leaves blind spots. Any “public benefit” must be weighed against unequal risk and misuse.

Open Source and Net Neutrality

Open standards and net-neutrality protect small players and consumers. Federal net-neutrality was restored in 2024, then vacated by the courts in early 2025; some states still enforce their own rules. The broader goal remains: an open, nondiscriminatory internet with clear privacy duties.

Evaluating the Article’s Conclusion

Your core thesis—corporate interests often come ahead of individual privacy—is supported by current law. Where many pieces stop short is the “what now?” for readers. Below: a practical action list.

10 things you can do right now

  1. Turn on Global Privacy Control (GPC) in a supported browser/extension to auto-signal “don’t sell/share.”
  2. Use your state privacy rights (access, delete, opt-out). Check your state AG/CPPA pages.
  3. Opt-out of prescreened credit offers (FCRA right) via 1-888-5-OPTOUT or OptOutPrescreen.com.
  4. Minimize app permissions (location, contacts, photos). Disable ad ID tracking on phones.
  5. Prefer end-to-end encrypted channels for sensitive chats/files.
  6. Use passkeys/MFA to block account-takeovers that lead to privacy breaches.
  7. Segment identities: separate email/phone aliases for shopping, banking, health, and social.
  8. Data broker clean-up: opt-out directly; watch for California’s unified delete portal (DROP).
  9. Router & DNS privacy: enable DNS-over-HTTPS; turn off “smart” features you don’t need.
  10. Advocate locally: ask state reps to adopt strong privacy + anti-discrimination rules and fund enforcement.

Critical Perspective

Regimes that emphasize disclosures over duties push complexity onto users and entrench power asymmetries. The U.S. is moving—but unevenly—via state laws and California’s rulemaking on AI/automation. Until a comprehensive federal baseline exists, privacy will remain a zip-code lottery.

Sources & further reading

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