Government protection law addresses the rights of individuals to protect themselves from governmental actions that violate their rights. Equal protection, privacy laws and civil liberties are examples.

Consumers who believe an individual company has violated their rights as consumers can file a civil suit against the company before the state attorney general or another agency. In cases where the violations result in serious consequences, federal agencies (such as the Consumer Product Safety Commission or the Food and Drug Administration) can also file a lawsuit against the company that has committed the violation.

A number of states have passed consumer protection laws, however the federal level does not have a similar set of laws. However, Europe has a comprehensive law on data protection, known as the General Data Protection Regulation, which requires companies to obtain permission prior to using personal data and grants consumers the right to control and access their own data government protection law and data. However, the United States has a patchwork with acronyms like HIPAA. FCRA. GLBA. FERPA. and ECPA.

The APRA will prioritize the interests of consumers over that of private-sector businesses and allow them to claim damages. A new Maryland law would also ban the selling of personal information and mandate data minimization to protect privacy.

Equal protection laws ensure a state treats its citizens equally and does not make distinctions due to differences which are not relevant to a valid purpose of the government. The Constitution’s guarantee of equality in the workplace, for example does not permit employers to discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity.