Data Breaches and Fines Are Coming—Is Your Small Business Ready?

✍️ By Debbie Balfour | WBN News | June 26, 2025 | Click HERE for your FREE Subscription to WBN News and/or to be a Contributor.

If your business collects customer info but doesn’t protect it—you could face serious legal and financial consequences.
Whether you're in the U.S. or Canada, data privacy laws are tightening. If you're gathering names, emails, payment info, or tracking user behavior, you're on the hook for compliance.

In Canada, the key regulation is PIPEDA (Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act). It applies to most businesses and requires you to:

• Get consent before collecting data
• Safely store and protect data
• Respond to data access and correction requests
• Report certain breaches to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner

In the U.S., there’s no single federal privacy law—yet. But many states now enforce strict laws:

• California (CCPA/CPRA): Requires clear privacy policies and gives consumers right to access or delete their data.
• Virginia, Colorado, and others: Have followed with similar consumer protections.

What small businesses often overlook:

• Using third-party tools without verifying data compliance
• Collecting too much info "just in case"
• Failing to encrypt or secure client data
• Not disclosing how data is used or shared

The penalties? In Canada, fines can reach $100,000 per violation. In the U.S., it varies by state, but breaches can result in lawsuits, government audits, and major reputation damage.

The solution doesn’t always mean hiring a privacy lawyer. Many entrepreneurs now turn to affordable legal services that provide document review, policy templates, and compliance checklists to reduce risk.

You don’t need to be a tech company to care about data privacy. You just need customers.

Have questions or not sure where to start? I’m here to help—reach out anytime.

Debbie Balfour | Real Estate Investing Success Coach + Podcast Host
📍 Website: www.DebbieBalfour.com
📧 Email: Debbie@DebbieBalfour.com
🔗 LinkedIn: Debbie Balfour
▶️ YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@DebbieBalfour

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