Happy Friday from Portsmouth, New Hampshire! 

We’ve reached the hazy days of summer and as people gear up for summer vacations, it feels like privacy is gearing up for … something.

Just this week, Ireland’s Data Protection Commission informed EU regulators it was drafting plans to halt data transfers from Meta-owned services like Facebook and Instagram, the European Parliament adopted the Digital Markets Act and Digital Services Act, and, shortly before press time in the U.S., President Biden signed an executive order protecting access to reproductive health care services as well as patient privacy and sensitive health information.

It goes without saying the recent Dobbs ruling and the implications it will have on privacy has been top of mind these last two weeks. In case you missed any of our coverage, IAPP Staff Writer Joe Duball wrote about the ways lawmakers and technology companies will try to address privacy harms that may arise from the decision. In May, Editorial Director Jedidiah Bracy discussed the privacy concerns with overturning Roe v. Wade when the initial draft leaked. 

Some Senate Democrats have expressed concern the proposed American Data Privacy and Protection Act does not do enough to safeguards the rights of people who could become pregnant. It’s worth noting here that it’s expected the proposed federal legislation will go for full markup before the House Energy and Commerce Committee sometime after the July 4 recess. We’ll keep you posted when that happens and if changes will be made now that Roe v. Wade has been overturned.

But while the conversations on the Dobbs ruling continue, Congress and state legislatures — California in particular — are working on privacy-related issues. Last week, the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space and Technology's Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight held a hearing on securing privacy rights in the "age of biometric technologies." In his opening remarks, Chairman Bill Foster, D-Ill., noted The America COMPETES Act, which is currently in conference to resolve recommendations, "contains a number of provisions that will future-proof the government’s definitions and standards for biometric identification systems and invest in privacy enhancing technologies."

At the state level, California’s proposed Age-Appropriate Design Code Act passed the California State Assembly’s Senate Judiciary Committee and is headed to the Committee on Appropriations. California's Social Media Platform Duty to Children Act advanced to the Committee on Appropriations as well. Committee hearings for both have been tentatively scheduled for Aug. 1.

We'll be sure to keep you updated on the above privacy news. In the meantime, enjoy the weekend.