Attorney General William Tong and bipartisan legislators announced a bill to modernize Connecticut's anti-robocall laws, which haven't been updated since 2015. The bill would expand coverage to text messages, ban gateway VoIP providers, enforce calls to Connecticut area codes, set calling hour restrictions, strengthen telemarketer disclosures, and clarify Do Not Call List protections.
In-house legal teams should review vendor agreements with telemarketing firms, customer agreements for SMS marketing, and employee sales contracts to align with Connecticut's proposed anti-robocall bill. Specific clauses to scrutinize include telemarketing compliance terms, calling hour restrictions (prohibiting calls before 9 a.m. and after 8 p.m.), Do Not Call List compliance, text message consent provisions, automated call disclosure requirements, and prohibitions on gateway VoIP providers. Recommended changes involve adding calling time windows, securing prior consent for text messages, enhancing disclosure language, banning gateway VoIP services, and reinforcing Do Not Call honor mechanisms.
Entity
Robocall Scammers
Industry
TelecommunicationsOfficial Press Release
https://portal.ct.gov/ag/press-releases/2023-press-releases/attorney-general-tong-announces-bipartisan-robocall-bill
ag tmy gen law ag consumer protection bill sb 1058 22123 f.p
https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/ag/press_releases/2022/ag-tmy-gen-law-ag-consumer-protection-bill-sb-1058-22123-f.pdf?rev=e526d9e6ed884a8d9eafbd38c890e12d&hash=074CA1C4D560A8798AA5C32A71C46338
Connecticut Attorney General Enforcement Page
https://portal.ct.gov/AG/Privacy/Privacy-Resources
$500K
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong announced settlements with SunRun, Inc., Elevate Solar Solutions, and two salespeople over allegations of deceptive solar sales, including impersonating consumers and locking homeowners into long-term contracts without consent. SunRun must pay $300,000 and provide consumer relief; Elevate and the salespeople face a stated $200,000 penalty, with $100,000 suspended subject to ongoing compliance.
$8.0M
Connecticut announced an $8 million settlement with Mylan over allegations that it used agreements to delay generic EpiPen competitors and took other actions that inflated prices. Mylan also agreed to provide 10,000 free EpiPens; the release states that Mylan denies wrongdoing.
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong joined a coalition of 22 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief challenging DHS’s policy and practice of conducting warrantless civil immigration arrests. The press release describes a court challenge, not a privacy enforcement action or monetary penalty.
$625K
Connecticut reached a $625,000 settlement with Frontier Communications Parent Inc. over an April 2024 breach in which compromised employee and vendor credentials were used to access internal systems and exfiltrate unencrypted personal information of 58,841 Connecticut residents. The settlement requires Frontier to strengthen its security program, implement specific safeguards and training, and obtain an independent third-party assessment.
$2.6M
Connecticut and New York found that Boston Children’s Health Physicians and its security vendor, XTIUM, failed to use reasonable safeguards, resulting in hackers accessing sensitive personal, medical, and employee information. The companies agreed to pay penalties totaling $2.64 million and implement enhanced cybersecurity measures.
Connecticut joined a coalition of state attorneys general filing a notice in Character Technologies, Inc.’s bankruptcy proceedings, raising concerns about the company’s safety and privacy practices and the sensitive information it holds. The states seek protections for children and consumers if the company’s business or assets are sold or transferred; the filing does not impose a fine or other remedy.