Covered recently here the news about states ramping up enforcement of their privacy frameworks news broke about how states have alos hired technologists to use tools to find where companies are not being honest and transparent about their privacy practices.
As Minnesota just joined the list of states with privacy laws the United States is still absent of a comprehensive federal framework, regulators are increasingly turning to specialized technology hires to strengthen their enforcement capabilities. This strategic push is enabling more sophisticated investigations into corporate data practices, leading to significant fines and settlements. With 20 states having worked on or enacted consumer privacy laws, enforcement actions are not only ramping up but are poised to intensify further, particularly in light of high-profile cases involving apps like Temu, which have drawn multistate lawsuits for alleged data theft and deceptive practices.
At least six states—California, Texas, Oregon, Connecticut, Minnesota, and Delaware—have actively recruited technologists, investigators, and privacy analysts from backgrounds including federal agencies, Big Tech firms, and in-house counsel roles. This bipartisan effort aims to close the expertise gap between regulators and the tech-savvy companies they oversee. As Cobun Zweifel-Keegan, managing director of the International Association of Privacy Professionals’ Washington office, explains, “Without technologists they’re at a disadvantage compared to the companies they’re talking to in terms of figuring out the details and how they relate to the law.” These hires are inspired by federal models, such as the Federal Trade Commission’s Office of Technology established in 2023 and similar initiatives at the US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Bloomberg news has released a graph of the State Attorney Generals that are hiring for privacy enforcement starting at the beginning of this year to showcase that we will start to see ramped up enforcement especially after the TicketNetwork fine in Connecticut.
The impact of this tech hiring spree is already evident in more technically detailed enforcement actions. Michael Macko, deputy director of enforcement at the California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA), notes, “We are on the cusp, in my view, of a new era of privacy enforcement, especially as all these state laws go online.” He further elaborates on recent cases: “In our recent public actions, you’ll see evidence of that in terms of what companies were doing behind the scenes and how the infrastructure was set up at companies, for example, to implement privacy requests. We’re getting into all of that at a very detailed, deep level, and the best way to do that is with a team of attorneys and technologists. And you’re seeing this across the country.” For instance, the CPPA has shifted from merely reviewing privacy policies to probing backend systems, as seen in actions against American Honda Motor Co. Inc. and Todd Snyder Inc., where technical investigations revealed issues with web design and data handling.
A prime example of this escalating enforcement is Connecticut’s recent action under the Connecticut Data Privacy Act (CTDPA). In July 2025, Attorney General William Tong announced an $85,000 settlement with TicketNetwork, an online ticket marketplace, marking the state’s first monetary penalty under the CTDPA. The investigation stemmed from complaints about deficient privacy notices that failed to adequately inform consumers about data collection, sharing, and opt-out rights. Despite multiple warnings from the attorney general’s office, TicketNetwork did not fully rectify the issues, leading to the fine. Under the settlement, the company must not only pay the penalty but also implement comprehensive compliance measures, including regular audits of its privacy practices and training for employees on data privacy laws. This case underscores a shift away from mere warnings toward stricter accountability, with regulators using technical expertise to dissect how platforms handle sensitive consumer data in real-time transactions for events like concerts and sports.
Enforcement is only expected to grow more intense, especially following controversies surrounding apps like Temu, the popular Chinese e-commerce platform. Multiple states have filed lawsuits against Temu and its affiliates for alleged privacy violations, including unauthorized data collection, intellectual property theft, and embedding malware-like features that siphon user information without consent. Kentucky became the latest to sue in late July 2025, accusing Temu of illegally harvesting user data and offering it for sale, in violation of state consumer protection and privacy laws. Earlier, Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers filed a suit in June 2025, alleging deceptive practices that allowed the app to access device data beyond what was disclosed, including contacts, location, and browsing history. Arkansas and other states have followed suit, highlighting how Temu’s app allegedly uses hidden code to exfiltrate data to servers in China, raising national security concerns alongside privacy issues. These coordinated actions signal a new wave of multistate enforcement, where attorneys general pool resources to tackle cross-border tech threats, much like the April 2025 agreement among California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, New Jersey, Oregon, and the CPPA for shared investigations.
Kirsten Hilton, assistant attorney-in-charge at the Oregon Department of Justice, captures the evolving complexity: “The issues have been technical for a while—they’re getting even more technical.” Michele Lucan, deputy associate attorney general and chief of the privacy and data security section at Connecticut’s Office of the Attorney General, adds, “I’m really curious to see how technologists can contribute to that. We’re getting there on a few cases.” From the industry side, Ron De Jesus, field chief privacy officer at Transcend, a compliance vendor, sees potential benefits: “Having regulators that truly understand technology, that truly understand how privacy controls should be implemented, is going to make our lives easier to an extent. We’re going to be able to respond to those pointed, well-researched and thorough questions versus trying to figure out what the regulator really wants.”
To navigate this heightened scrutiny, technologists and compliance teams are turning to innovative tools that can preempt violations. One such asset is the Crumb Patrol by Captain Compliance, a private invite only browser extension designed to audit cookie banners and consent mechanisms in real-time. This tool scans websites for misconfigurations, such as banners that fail to block trackers until explicit consent is given or those with deceptive “dark patterns” that nudge users toward accepting data sharing. By simulating user interactions and flagging non-compliant elements—like incomplete disclosures or faulty opt-out buttons—Crumb Patrol helps developers and privacy officers identify and fix issues before they attract regulatory attention. In an era where enforcement often targets subtle technical flaws, as in the TicketNetwork case, tools like this empower teams to conduct proactive “compliance patrols,” ensuring banners align with laws like the CTDPA or California’s CCPA. Demonstrations of Crumb Patrol highlight its user-friendly interface, making it accessible even for non-experts to test banners “like a pro,” ultimately reducing the risk of fines and building trust with consumers.
Overall, as Zweifel-Keegan aptly puts it, this tech hiring push is “literally more cops on the beat.” Caitlin Micko, Assistant Attorney General at the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office, echoes the focus on capacity building: “We’re focused on building the team that will be able to best implement and enforce the law.” With states like Texas securing $1 billion settlements from Meta Platforms Inc. for facial recognition violations and ongoing probes into automotive data practices at General Motors, the message is clear: privacy enforcement is evolving from policy reviews to deep technical dives, and companies must adapt or face escalating consequences. As more laws come online and collaborations deepen, the intensity of these efforts will likely surge, driven by cases like Temu that expose vulnerabilities in global apps.
If you want to get your website compliant and avoid the increased regulatory enforcement book a demo below with one of our privacy experts.
