Preti Flaherty Attorney Helps Advance Historic Legislation

Preti Flaherty attorney and lobbyist, Andy Cashman, helped sway both houses of the Maine legislature to pass a first-in-the-nation bill preventing major cable and wireless companies like Verizon and AT&T from selling Maine customers' personal information without their permission. This historic legislation, now signed into law by Governor Janet Mills, enacts the strictest internet privacy laws in the U.S.  The bill faced strong opposition from Internet Service Providers as well as the Maine Chamber of Commerce. The ACLU of Maine hired Cashman to gain the necessary support of lawmakers to advance the bill. The successful lobbying and subsequent passing of this bill have put Maine in the national spotlight, as no other state in the country has been able to overcome opposition by major cable and wireless companies to pass this level of protection for consumers. 

Continuing Coverage:

• Maine on track to pass nation's strictest internet privacy laws Portland Press Herald
• Maine passes ISP privacy bill Engadget
• Maine lawmakers pass one of America's strictest online privacy bills Bangor Daily News
• Maine lawmakers pass bill to prevent ISPs from selling browser data without consent TechCrunch
• Maine legislature approves strict internet privacy law WMTW-ABC
• Maine bill would require internet companies to ask customers if they want info sold WCSH-NBC
• Maine lawmakers send one of the country's toughest internet privacy proposals to the Governor's desk Maine Public
• Internet providers in Maine will soon have to get consent before selling customer data Gizmodo
• Maine Senate takes step to strengthen internet privacy WGME-CBS
• Governor Mills signs internet privacy legislation Maine.gov
• Gov. Mills signs nation's strictest internet privacy protection bill Portland Press Herald