Washington – The Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) is testifying today before the Maryland House Economic Matters Committee in support of HB 1365, a bill that would modernize the state’s data privacy law by aligning with national and international standards while preserving essential digital services for consumers.
Under Maryland’s current “strict necessity” data minimization standard, businesses must prove that any collected consumer data is strictly required for a specific product or service, a uniquely restrictive approach that discourages companies from operating in Maryland and limits access to such widely used digital tools as voice recognition and text-to-speech. HB 1365 would replace this rigid requirement with a more practical standard consistent with national and international privacy laws. By allowing businesses to collect only the data necessary to fulfill a specific purpose, the bill would ensure that Marylanders continue to benefit from strong privacy protections while maintaining access to valuable services such as personalized recommendations, security improvements, and digital accessibility tools.
In its testimony, CCIA will also also raise concerns about HB 1407, which could impose liability on intermediaries rather than on bad actors who knowingly misuse AI-generated content. The association warns that this approach could stifle innovation and restrict legitimate, protected uses of AI technology. CCIA advocates for legislation that directly targets those who engage in harmful digital impersonation rather than approaches that broadly assign liability to service providers.
The following statement can be attributed to Megan Stokes, State Policy Director for CCIA:
“We support HB 1365 because it brings Maryland’s data privacy law in line with national and international standards while ensuring that businesses can continue offering essential services to consumers. By replacing the overly restrictive ‘strict necessity’ standard with a more practical approach, the bill enhances privacy protections without undermining accessibility and innovation. We urge lawmakers to pass HB 1365 to provide clear, effective privacy safeguards for Marylanders.”
