October 2025 Privacy Pulse: Regulators are cracking down
mePrism Privacy Pulse – October 2025
Your monthly check-in on data-broker risk, regulatory changes, and open-web exposure.
This Month’s Takeaway
Regulators are cracking down. Brokers are scrambling. Enterprises are rethinking risk—and individuals have new power. If you’re not actively managing your online exposure, now’s the time.
1. Data Privacy Regulation Is Heating Up
California Leads the Way
AB 656 Signed: Social platforms must make account deletion easy—and ensure full data deletion when requested.
Gov. Newsom’s announcement →
CPPA Expands Broker Rules: New requirements force brokers to report whether they sell data to foreign actors or U.S. government agencies.
Read more →
California Delete Act Update: Starting August 1, 2026, individuals nationwide can file a single request to compel data brokers to delete all listings.
Details →
2. What It Means for Enterprises & High-Risk Profiles
If you’re in security, legal, or compliance
Open-web exposure is no longer a back-burner issue. Executive listings, people-search databases, and stale broker records now represent both cyber and physical threat vectors.
Cross-border risks are real: If broker data leaks to foreign entities, your attack surface could span continents.
If you’re an individual (especially high-risk)
Doctors, attorneys, journalists, executives, and influencers: You now have legal leverage, but leverage isn’t enough. Proactive removal is still your best defense.
3. Key Risk Trends We're Watching
Re-listing Churn: As brokers adapt to new rules, expect a spike in fresh listings and recycled data. One-time removal won’t cut it.
Cyber + Physical Security Convergence: Open-web exposure is being used for impersonation, stalking, spear phishing, and extortion.
Compliance ≠ Safety: Just because a broker is registered doesn’t mean they’ve removed your data. It’s the deletion that matters.
4. How mePrism Helps
At mePrism, we’re not here to watch change—we’re here to drive it.
For Individuals
Search and discover where your data is listed
Request deletion—automatically
Get alerts when your data reappears
For Enterprises
Integrate open-web removal into your security stack
Equip your workforce with data privacy as an HR benefit
Monitor exposure across your leadership team—and act on it
We combine continuous removal, real-time alerts, and enterprise-grade reporting so your privacy isn’t just protected—it’s managed.
5. Action Steps You Can Take Right Now
For Everyone
1. Freeze Your Credit — It's Free, Fast, and Powerful
Stops identity thieves from opening new accounts in your name. Doesn’t affect your score. Always free.
Equifax: Freeze your credit →
Experian: Freeze your credit →
TransUnion: Freeze your credit →
Pro Tip: Do all three.
2. Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Add a second layer of security to key logins.
3. Use a Password Manager
Strong, unique passwords for every site.
4. Register with the FTC Do Not Call Registry
Reduce robocalls and scams.
donotcall.gov
For Security & Compliance Teams
Audit exposure across executives, staff, contractors
Build post-removal alerts and re-listing detection
Treat open-web exposure as a core security layer
For Boards & Executives
Include open-web exposure in risk dashboards
Ask: “How many of our leadership appear in broker listings?”
Budget for privacy defense like phishing or endpoint security
6. Looking Ahead
More states will follow California’s lead
Federal privacy legislation (APRA) may pass
Security industry treating removal + monitoring as essential
Ready to try mePrism yourself?
Privacy is power. Whether you’re protecting your family or your executive team, now’s the time to lock it down. mePrism is here to make that simple, effective, and sustainable. Ready to reduce your risk? Let’s talk. The mePrism Privacy Team
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