Jovanna got a discount on a pair of shoes by signing up for a store’s email list. If they shared
her information with other companies without her permission, what would offer her the most
protection?
If Jovanna's information was shared without her permission, the level of protection available to her would largely depend on the country she is in and the privacy laws that apply there. Here are some regulations that could offer her protection in different regions:
1. **General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)**: If Jovanna is in the European Union (EU), the GDPR provides comprehensive protection for personal data. Under GDPR, companies must have explicit consent to share personal information with third parties. Jovanna would have the right to access the data that the company holds about her, the right to rectify any inaccuracies, and the right to have her data deleted ("right to be forgotten"). She could also report the mishandling of her data to her national data protection authority, which could take action against the company.
2. **California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)** and **California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA)**: If Jovanna is in California, USA, these acts give Californian residents similar rights to those provided by the GDPR, including the right to know what personal information a business collects about them and whether it is being sold or shared, to opt out of the sale of personal information, to access their personal information, and to request deletion of their personal information.
3. **Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA)**: In Canada, PIPEDA provides guidelines on how private sector organizations can collect, use, or disclose personal information in the course of commercial activity. If Jovanna is in Canada, she would have the right to access and request corrections to her personal information, and she could file a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada if she believes her rights have been violated.
4. **Other international or state laws**: Many other countries and states have enacted privacy legislation that protects personal information. Brazil's LGPD, Australia's Privacy Act, and several U.S. state laws provide varying levels of protection and rights for consumers.
Jovanna should:
- Start by reviewing the store's privacy policy to understand their stance on data sharing and the rights she agreed to when signing up for the email list.
- If there's evidence that her information was shared without her consent and this violates applicable law, she can reach out to the store and demand an explanation or action.
- If necessary, Jovanna can file a complaint with the relevant data protection authority or pursue legal action.
- She can also unsubscribe from the email list and opt out of future data sharing if those options are available.
- Moving forward, she can be more vigilant about whom she provides her personal information to and how they are allowed to use it.
Remember that while laws provide a framework for data protection, it's important to take proactive steps to manage one's privacy and understand the terms and conditions of services to which one subscribes.