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
$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.
$13.7M
Connecticut joined a coalition of states and the federal government in settling allegations that Takeda paid healthcare providers speaker honoraria and provided meals to induce prescriptions of Trintellix, leading to allegedly false claims to government healthcare programs. Takeda agreed to pay $13,670,921 plus accrued interest, with portions allocated to federal and state programs.