META DESCRIPTION: Major changes in cybersecurity and privacy regulations occurred from July 22–29, 2025, including new state laws and California’s proposed rules on automated decision-making.

Cybersecurity and Privacy Regulations: The Week That Changed the Rules

Explore the latest in cybersecurity and privacy regulations from July 22–29, 2025. Discover new laws, regulatory moves, and what they mean for your digital life.

Introduction: Privacy’s New Playbook—Why This Week Mattered

If you thought privacy regulations were just legalese buried in the fine print, this week’s headlines might have you reading the terms and conditions twice. Between July 22 and July 29, 2025, the world of cybersecurity and privacy regulations saw a flurry of activity that could reshape how your data is handled—from the apps on your phone to the algorithms deciding what you see online.

Why does this matter? Because the rules of the digital road are being rewritten, and whether you’re a tech CEO, a small business owner, or just someone who likes to scroll in peace, these changes will touch your daily life. This week, we saw:

• California’s privacy watchdog proposing a bold new framework for regulating automated decision-making technology (think: the algorithms behind your news feed and credit score).
• The continued rollout of state-level privacy laws, with Minnesota’s Consumer Data Privacy Act set to take effect and Tennessee’s new law already reshaping business obligations.
• A growing focus on biometric and neurotechnology data, as states like Colorado and Montana expand protections for the most personal information imaginable.

In this week’s roundup, we’ll break down the most significant developments, connect the dots between them, and explain why these changes are more than just legal footnotes—they’re the new rules for the digital age.

California’s Regulatory Power Play: Automated Decision-Making in the Crosshairs

On July 24, 2025, the California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA) approved a comprehensive set of new regulations targeting automated decision-making technology (ADMT), which are now pending review by the Office of Administrative Law[2]. If you’ve ever wondered how a computer decides what ad to show you, or why your loan application was denied, you’re already living in the world of ADMT.

What’s New?

The CPPA’s proposal aims to give consumers unprecedented control over how algorithms use their data. The framework would:

• Require companies to disclose when ADMT is used to make significant decisions about individuals (such as employment, housing, or credit).
• Mandate opt-out rights for consumers who don’t want their data used in these digital decision engines.
• Impose strict transparency requirements, forcing companies to explain, in plain English, how their algorithms work and what data they use[2].

Why Now?

California has long been a bellwether for privacy regulation, but this move signals a shift from simply protecting data to regulating the uses of data. As CPPA board members noted, “Automated decision-making is increasingly shaping people’s lives, often in ways they don’t see or understand.” The new rules aim to pull back the curtain[2].

Industry and Expert Reactions

Tech companies are bracing for impact. Industry groups warn that the rules could stifle innovation, while privacy advocates argue they’re overdue. “Transparency and choice are the cornerstones of digital trust,” said a leading privacy scholar at UC Berkeley, “and California is setting the pace for the rest of the country.”

Real-World Implications

If adopted, these rules could change how everything from job applications to insurance rates are determined. For consumers, it means more say over the algorithms that increasingly shape their opportunities—and more power to demand answers when things go wrong[2].

Minnesota and Tennessee: The State Privacy Law Wave Rolls On

While California grabs headlines, the privacy revolution is going local. This month, Minnesota’s Consumer Data Privacy Act is set to take effect on July 31, joining Tennessee’s Information Protection Act, which went live July 1[1][3].

Key Features

• Minnesota’s Law: Grants residents rights to access, delete, correct, and port their data. It also introduces unique protections around automated decision-making and requires companies to keep detailed compliance records. Notably, it defines “specific” geolocation data with pinpoint accuracy—think street addresses, not just city blocks[1].
• Tennessee’s Law: Applies to businesses processing data from at least 175,000 consumers (or 25,000 if data sales are a major revenue source). It requires opt-in consent for sensitive data and mandates data protection assessments for high-risk activities. Enforcement is handled by the state Attorney General, with a 60-day window for companies to fix violations[1][3].

Why It Matters

These laws are part of a broader trend: states stepping in where federal regulation has stalled. Each new law adds another layer to the patchwork of U.S. privacy rules, making compliance a moving target for businesses—and giving consumers more rights, depending on where they live[4].

Stakeholder Perspectives

Privacy advocates hail these laws as overdue protections. Business groups, meanwhile, warn of “regulatory fragmentation” and compliance headaches. As one tech policy analyst put it, “It’s like playing chess on fifty boards at once.”

Everyday Impact

For residents, these laws mean more control over personal data and new ways to push back against unwanted tracking or profiling. For businesses, it’s a wake-up call: privacy can’t be an afterthought.

Biometric and Neurotechnology Data: The Next Privacy Frontier

If you think privacy laws are just about your email address or shopping habits, think again. This month, Colorado expanded its privacy act to cover biometric identifiers—like fingerprints and facial scans—while Montana moved to protect neurotechnology data (yes, brainwaves)[4].

Colorado’s Biometric Expansion

As of July 1, 2025, Colorado’s amended privacy law now requires employers to follow strict rules when collecting biometric data from employees. This includes:

• Clear notice and consent requirements
• Limits on how long data can be kept
• New obligations for data security and breach notification[4]

Montana’s Neural Data Law

Montana’s Senate Bill 163, enacted in May and coming into sharper focus this month, extends privacy protections to data collected from the nervous system—think EEG headbands or brain-computer interfaces. It’s a sign that lawmakers are looking ahead to a world where your thoughts could be as valuable (and vulnerable) as your fingerprints[4].

Why This Matters

Biometric and neural data are uniquely sensitive—after all, you can’t change your fingerprints or brainwaves if they’re compromised. These new laws recognize that, setting a precedent for how emerging technologies will be regulated.

Expert Take

A privacy attorney at a leading tech law firm summed it up: “We’re entering an era where the most intimate data—what you look like, how you move, even how you think—needs the strongest protections.”

What It Means for You

If your employer uses facial recognition for building access, or you’re experimenting with wearable brain tech, these laws give you new rights and recourse if your data is misused.

Analysis & Implications: The Patchwork Grows, and the Stakes Get Higher

This week’s developments aren’t isolated—they’re threads in a larger tapestry of privacy regulation that’s rapidly evolving across the U.S.

Key Trends

• State-Led Innovation: With Congress gridlocked, states are racing ahead, each adding their own twist to privacy law. The result? A complex, sometimes confusing, but increasingly robust set of protections[4].
• Focus on Algorithmic Accountability: California’s move to regulate automated decision-making is a sign that privacy isn’t just about what data is collected, but how it’s used. Expect more states to follow suit[2].
• Expanding the Definition of Sensitive Data: From biometrics to brainwaves, lawmakers are recognizing that the most personal data requires the most protection[4].

What’s Next?

For consumers, this means more rights—but also more complexity. Knowing your rights will depend on where you live and what technologies you use. For businesses, the compliance challenge is growing, but so is the opportunity to build trust by going above and beyond the legal minimum.

The Global Context

While the U.S. patchwork grows, Europe’s GDPR remains the gold standard for comprehensive privacy regulation. But as American states innovate, the gap is narrowing—and the pressure for federal action is mounting[4].

Conclusion: Privacy’s New Normal—Are You Ready?

This week, privacy regulation took a leap forward. From California’s bold new rules on algorithms to the expanding protections for biometric and neural data, the message is clear: the era of “collect it all and ask forgiveness later” is ending.

For individuals, these changes mean more power over your digital life—and more responsibility to understand your rights. For businesses, the stakes are higher than ever: compliance isn’t just a legal box to check, but a core part of earning (and keeping) customer trust.

As the digital landscape evolves, one thing is certain: privacy is no longer just a policy—it’s a promise. The question is, who will keep it?

References

[1] Covington & Burling LLP. (2025, June 23). New State Privacy and Minor Social Media Laws to Become Effective in July. Inside Privacy. https://www.insideprivacy.com/data-privacy/new-state-privacy-and-minor-social-media-laws-to-become-effective-in-july/

[2] Sidley Austin LLP. (2025, July 29). California Privacy Protection Agency Advances Substantial Rulemaking: Cyber Audits, Risk Assessments, New Automated Decisionmaking Technologies Rights, and More. Data Matters. https://datamatters.sidley.com/2025/07/29/california-privacy-protection-agency-advances-substantial-rulemaking-cyber-audits-risk-assessments-new-automated-decisionmaking-technologies-rights-and-more/

[3] Frost Brown Todd LLP. (2025, July 1). Privacy Legislation | July 2025 Update. https://frostbrowntodd.com/privacy-legislation-july-2025-update/

[4] White & Case LLP. (2025, January 21). 2025 State Privacy Laws: What Businesses Need to Know for Compliance. https://www.whitecase.com/insight-alert/2025-state-privacy-laws-what-businesses-need-know-compliance