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Utah Consumer Privacy Act (the UCPA)

On March 24, 2022, Utah’s Governor Spencer Cox signed into law the Utah Consumer Privacy Act (the UCPA).

The Utah Consumer Privacy Act (UCPA) went into effect on December 31, 2023. Utah will join California (CCPA) and Virginia (VCDPA) with comprehensive data privacy laws, as it rolls out its new Utah Consumer Privacy Act. Following shortly are Colorado (CPA) Connecticut (CTDPA).

⏰ Short on time? Jump to what you need to do to prepare for the UCPA →

Overview of the Utah Consumer Privacy Act

The UCPA is a new consumer privacy law in Utah went into effect on December 31, 2023. The UCPA is similar to the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (VCDPA), but takes a lighter, more business-friendly approach to consumer privacy. The UCPA is intended to provide a workable standard for businesses while also protecting Utah consumers’ guaranteed rights.

To comply with the UCPA, businesses must take several steps, including reviewing and updating their privacy notice, implementing processes to respond to consumer requests, and providing an opt-out mechanism for sensitive data processing.

🔎 Keep reading to learn more about the upcoming changes in Utah, or jump to what you need to do to prepare for the UCPA → 

What is considered personal data under the UCPA?

Under the Utah Consumer Privacy Act (UCPA), “personal data” is defined as information that is linked or reasonably linkable to an identified or identifiable individual. This includes any data that can be used to directly or indirectly identify a person, such as their name, address, email address, phone number, or other similar identifiers. The UCPA does not consider de-identified data, aggregated data, or publicly available information as personal data.

Will you be affected by the UCPA?

To determine if you will be affected by the Utah Consumer Privacy Act (UCPA), you will need to assess if it meets the criteria listed in the law. The UCPA applies to any organization that:

  1. Conducts business in Utah; or
  2. Produces a product or service that is targeted to consumers who are Utah residents;
  3. Has annual revenue of $25,000,000 or more; and
  4. Satisfies one or more of the following thresholds:
  5. During a calendar year, controls, or processes personal data of 100,000 or more consumers; or
  6. Derives over 50% of the entity’s gross revenue from the sale of personal data and controls or processes personal data of 25,000 or more consumers.

If you meet the above criteria, it will be subject to the UCPA. 

Privacy Policy requirements under the UCPA

If you’re subject to the Utah Consumer Privacy Act (UCPA), you must provide a privacy policy that is reasonably accessible and clear to consumers. Your privacy policy should include the following:

  1. Categories of Personal Data Processed: Identify the types of personal data that your organization collects and processes, such as names, email addresses, and payment information.
  2. Purposes for Processing Personal Data: Describe the reasons why your organization collects and processes personal data, such as to fulfill orders, provide customer support, or improve products or services.
  3. Consumer Rights: Explain how consumers can exercise their rights, such as the right to access and delete their personal data. Note that the UCPA does not grant consumers the right to request the correction of inaccurate personal data.
  4. Sharing of Personal Data: Disclose the categories of personal data that your organization shares with third parties, if any. For example, you may share payment information with a payment processor or mailing addresses with a shipping provider.
  5. Third Parties: Identify the categories of third parties with whom your organization shares personal data, if any. This could include vendors, service providers, or marketing partners.

If your organization sells* consumers’ personal data to one or more third parties or processes personal data for targeted advertising purposes, you must clearly and conspicuously inform consumers of these activities and provide a way for them to opt out.

*Sale→ under the UCPA means the exchange of personal data for monetary consideration by a controller to a third party. 

Remember: It’s important to regularly review and update your privacy policy to ensure that it accurately reflects your organization’s data processing practices and compliance with the UCPA.

Remember: It’s important to regularly review and update your privacy policy to ensure that it accurately reflects your organization’s data processing practices and compliance with the UCPA.

🚀 Did you know?

iubenda’s Privacy and Cookie Policy Generator allows you to add all currently required US state-level privacy disclosures in one simple click!

Simply click “Enable disclosures for Users residing in the United States” to activate the new US-specific clauses.

👉 Easily create your privacy policy for the upcoming UCPA →

Consumer rights under the UCPA

Under the UCPA, consumers will have enhanced rights in regard to their personal data, including: 

  • Right to access
  • Right to delete
  • Right to data portability
  • Right to opt out of certain processing

❗️ Please note that, unlike laws like the GDPR, the UCPA currently does not grant consumers the right to request the correction of inaccurate personal data.

When entered into force, you will have additional responsibilities, including responding to consumers’ requests for the exercise of their rights within a 45-day period.

Sensitive Data under the UCPA

Sensitive data is given special consideration under the UCPA. You must not process sensitive data without providing clear notice and an opportunity to opt out of the processing. This applies to personal data that reveals an individual’s:

  • racial or ethnic origin;
  • religious beliefs;
  • sexual orientation;
  • citizenship or immigration status; or
  • information regarding medical history, mental or physical health condition, or medical treatment or diagnosis by a health care professional;
  • the processing of genetic personal data or biometric data, if the processing is for the purpose of identifying a specific individual; or
  • specific geolocation data.

⚠️ If you process sensitive data, you must provide a clear notice that informs consumers of the type of sensitive data you collect and the purpose for which you process it. Additionally, you must provide an opportunity for consumers to opt out of the processing of their sensitive data. You must also obtain verifiable parental consent if the sensitive data concerns a known child who is younger than 13 years old.

Under the Utah Consumer Privacy Act (UCPA), consumers have the right to opt out of the processing of their personal data for targeted advertising purposes or the sale of their personal data to third parties. However, the Act does not provide specific guidelines on how you should enable consumers to exercise this right.

To comply with the UCPA, you must:
  • provide consumers with a means to submit opt-out requests; and
  • specify the right they intend to exercise. 

The method for submitting opt-out requests is left up to the discretion of the controller, as long as it is accessible and clear to the consumer.

You are not required to honor consumers’ opt-out requests through opt-out preference signals like the GPP and GPC.

Unlike other US state-level privacy legislations, it’s important to note that, under UCPA, opt-out links come into consideration only in relation to consumers’ right to opt out of the processing of sensitive data.

To ensure compliance with the UCPA, you should include a clear and accessible opt-out process in your privacy policy.

How to Prepare for the UCPA

The Utah Consumer Privacy Act (UCPA) imposes certain obligations on businesses that collect, process, or sell personal data of Utah residents. To prepare with the UCPA, you should:

✅ To help you comply with the UCPA, here is a checklist:
  1. Determine if your business is subject to the UCPA.
  2. Create a clear and accessible privacy policy that includes all required elements.
  3. Provide notice and an opportunity to opt-out of the processing of sensitive data.
  4. Enable consumers to exercise their right to accessdeletionportability, and opt out.
  5. Provide a clear and conspicuous notice about the sale* of personal data and processing for targeted advertising purposes and how to opt out.
  6. Implement appropriate security measures to protect personal data.

Utah’s consumer privacy act went into effect on December 31, 2023

Get Prepared Now