Technology (Data Privacy · Privacy)

This bill establishes comprehensive privacy protections for personal data collected by District of Columbia government agencies and third parties on their behalf. It creates a new Chief Privacy Officer role within the Office of the Chief Technology Officer to oversee compliance and grants residents, employees, and service users specific rights over their information. Key provisions require agencies to obtain clear affirmative consent before selling data, strictly limit data collection to what is necessary for government services, and define sensitive categories such as health records and government identifiers that warrant extra care. The legislation also sets rules for how third parties must handle data received from the government and defines what constitutes personal versus de-identified information.

The Protecting Judicial Privacy Act of 2026 prohibits government agencies and private entities from publicly displaying personal information about judges and magistrates in the District of Columbia. This information includes home addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and details about their children under 18. Under the bill, a judge can send a written request to stop this information from being posted online or in public records, requiring agencies to remove it within five business days and private companies to do so within 48 hours. If a judge's personal data is shared after such a request, they can sue for legal relief and recover legal fees. The law applies to all active and retired judges serving in federal courts and the District of Columbia's court system.