Maryland Privacy & Security Compliance Guide

🚨 Maryland Online Data Privacy Act (MODPA) - Effective October 1, 2025 (applies to processing activities April 1, 2026)

October 1, 2025 (applies to processing activities April 1, 2026)

Law active Oct 1, 2025; applies to businesses processing 35,000+ Maryland residents' data starting April 1, 2026

🧬 MARYLAND: FEDERAL CONTRACTOR & BIOTECH CORRIDOR

Federal Contractor Hub: NSA, NIH, FDA headquarters region creates massive concentration of companies processing classified and sensitive federal data.

Biotech Corridor:
• Genentech/Roche operations
• MedImmune facilities
• NIH research partnerships
• Clinical trial data processing

Port Operations: Port of Baltimore handles international shipping data, customs information, and logistics requiring federal compliance plus state privacy protection.

Healthcare Excellence: Johns Hopkins, University of Maryland Medical System processing patient data and medical research under HIPAA plus enhanced state privacy requirements.

Maryland by the Numbers

6.2 million

Population

145,000+

Businesses Affected

118

Recent Data Breaches

$Up to $1,000 per person affected (breach notification)

Per Violation Fine

Who Must Comply in Maryland?

Maryland Online Data Privacy Act (MODPA) applies to businesses that:

  • Process personal data of Maryland residents
  • Meet revenue or data volume thresholds
  • Sell products/services to Maryland consumers
  • Have physical or digital presence in Maryland

Maryland-Specific Requirements

MODPA has notably lower threshold (35,000 residents) than most state privacy laws. Includes enhanced requirements for federal contractors and biotech companies handling sensitive data.

Recent Maryland Privacy & Security Cases

Johns Hopkins breach (2024) - 500,000+ patients

University of Maryland hack (2023) - Research data

Maryland Department of Health attack (2024)

Federal contractor data incidents (ongoing)

Major Maryland Business Centers

Key cities where privacy compliance is critical for business success:

  • Baltimore
  • Frederick
  • Rockville
  • Gaithersburg
  • Bowie

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