Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, joined by 17 other attorneys general, filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education to block new IPEDS data reporting requirements that demand student information disaggregated by race and sex. The coalition argues the rushed implementation is unlawful, invades student privacy, and risks unreliable data and baseless investigations. They seek an injunction to halt the data collection and protect student privacy.
The lawsuit seeks a court injunction to prevent the Department of Education from enforcing the new IPEDS data reporting requirements and to stop the collection of detailed student data, citing privacy and procedural violations.
In-house legal teams should review contracts for clauses that mandate data sharing with government entities, particularly regarding student information. Ensure contracts include robust data protection provisions, limits on data use, and compliance with privacy laws like FERPA. Assess risks associated with new federal reporting mandates and include indemnification for potential privacy violations or inadvertent errors.
Entity
Department of Education
Industry
OtherOfficial Press Release
https://portal.ct.gov/ag/press-releases/2026-press-releases/attorney-general-tong-sues-trump-administration-to-stop-unlawful-data-demand
001 03112026 complaint.pdf?rev=7973300ada474ebb84a88e63f4dd2
https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/ag/press_releases/2026/001-03112026-complaint.pdf?rev=7973300ada474ebb84a88e63f4dd2657&hash=ABA82E04D6C00502F75B769687E153EA
Connecticut Attorney General Enforcement Page
https://portal.ct.gov/AG/Privacy/Privacy-Resources
"Department of Education"
"jeopardize student privacy"
"ED failed to provide definitions for critical terms"
Privacy enforcement action where Oregon AG and a coalition of 16 other states sue the Trump Administration to stop the Department of Education's new IPEDS data reporting requirements, arguing they jeopardize student privacy, lack proper definitions, and risk data errors and identification.
$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.
Attorney General William Tong and Consumer Counsel Claire Coleman petitioned PURA to review how Connecticut public utilities use artificial intelligence, citing potential data privacy and cybersecurity risks, algorithmic errors, and misleading outputs. The petition asks PURA to examine utility AI systems, safeguards, vendors, and data security practices; it does not report a finding of violation or an imposed penalty.
$2.0M
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong announced a settlement with RZ Smoke, Inc. over allegations that it distributed and sold high-potency cannabis products without a state license. The stipulated judgment is $2 million, with $375,000 payable to the State and $1.6 million suspended to ensure compliance; the company is barred from specified cannabis activities in Connecticut unless licensed.