2021 -- S 0340

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LC000304

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW - GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -

INTERNET PRIVACY AND SECURITY

     

     Introduced By: Senators DiPalma, Murray, Sosnowski, Kallman, Seveney, Morgan,
Euer, and Burke

     Date Introduced: February 25, 2021

     Referred To: Senate Commerce

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Title 6 of the General Laws entitled "COMMERCIAL LAW - GENERAL

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REGULATORY PROVISIONS" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

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CHAPTER 58

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INTERNET PRIVACY AND SECURITY

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     6-58-1. Short title.

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     This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Internet Privacy and Security Act."

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     6-58-2. Definitions.

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     For purposes of this chapter, the following terms have the following meanings:

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     (1) "Authentication" means a method of verifying the authority of a user, process, or device

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to access resources in an information system.

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     (2) "Connected device" means any device, or other physical object that is capable of

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connecting to the Internet, directly or indirectly, and that is assigned an Internet Protocol address

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or Bluetooth address.

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     (3) "Manufacturer" means the person who manufactures, or contracts with another person

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to manufacture on the person's behalf, connected devices that are sold or offered for sale in Rhode

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Island. For the purposes of this subsection, a contract with another person to manufacture on the

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person's behalf does not include a contract only to purchase a connected device, or only to purchase

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and brand a connected device.

 

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     (4) "Security feature" means a feature of a device designed to provide security for that

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device.

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     (5) "Unauthorized access, destruction, use, modification, or disclosure" means access,

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destruction, use, modification, or disclosure that is not authorized by the consumer.

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     6-58-3. Manufacturers of connected devices.

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     (a) A manufacturer of a connected device for sale or installation in this state, shall equip

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the device with a reasonable security feature or features that are all of the following:

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     (1) Appropriate to the nature and function of the device;

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     (2) Appropriate to the information it may collect, contain, or transmit; and

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     (3) Designed to protect the device and any information contained therein from

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unauthorized access, destruction, use, modification, or disclosure.

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     (b) Subject to all of the requirements of subsection (a) of this section, if a connected device

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is equipped with a means for authentication outside a local area network, it shall be deemed a

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reasonable security feature under subsection (a) of this section if either of the following

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requirements are met:

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     (1) The preprogrammed password is unique to each device manufactured; or

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     (2) The device contains a security feature that requires a user to generate a new means of

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authentication before access is granted to the device for the first time.

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     6-58-4. Non-applications.

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     (a) This chapter shall not be construed to:

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     (1) Impose any duty upon the manufacturer of a connected device related to unaffiliated

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third-party software or applications that a user chooses to add to a connected device;

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     (2) Impose any duty upon a provider of an electronic store, gateway, marketplace, or other

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means of purchasing or downloading software or applications, to review or enforce compliance

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with this chapter;

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     (3) Impose any duty upon the manufacturer of a connected device to prevent a user from

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having full control over a connected device, including the ability to modify the software or firmware

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running on the device at the user's discretion; or

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     (4) Provide a basis for a private right of action. The attorney general shall have the

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exclusive authority to enforce the provisions of this chapter.

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     (b) This chapter shall not apply to any connected device the functionality of which is

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subject to security requirements under federal law, regulations, or guidance promulgated by a

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federal agency pursuant to its regulatory enforcement authority.

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     (c) The duties and obligations imposed by this chapter are cumulative with any other duties

 

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or obligations imposed under other law, and shall not be construed to relieve any party from any

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duties or obligations imposed under other law.

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     (g) This chapter shall not be construed to limit the authority of a law enforcement agency

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to obtain connected device information from a manufacturer as authorized by law or pursuant to an

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order of a court of competent jurisdiction.

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     (h) A covered entity, provider of health care, business associate, health care service plan,

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contractor, employer, or any other person subject to the federal Health Insurance Portability and

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Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) (Pub. L. 104-191) or ยง 5-37.3-4 shall not be subject to this

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chapter with respect to any activity regulated by those acts.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2022.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW - GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -

INTERNET PRIVACY AND SECURITY

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     This act would establish that manufacturers of devices capable of connecting to the Internet

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equip the devices with reasonable security features.

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     This act would take effect on January 1, 2022.

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