A. The Attorney General shall have exclusive authority to enforce the provisions of this chapter.

Terms Used In Virginia Code 59.1-584

  • Consumer: means a natural person who is a resident of the Commonwealth acting only in an individual or household context. See Virginia Code 59.1-575
  • Controller: means the natural or legal person that, alone or jointly with others, determines the purpose and means of processing personal data. See Virginia Code 59.1-575
  • Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
  • Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
  • Processor: means a natural or legal entity that processes personal data on behalf of a controller. See Virginia Code 59.1-575
  • State: when applied to a part of the United States, includes any of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the United States Virgin Islands. See Virginia Code 1-245

B. Prior to initiating any action under this chapter, the Attorney General shall provide a controller or processor 30 days’ written notice identifying the specific provisions of this chapter the Attorney General alleges have been or are being violated. If within the 30-day period the controller or processor cures the noticed violation and provides the Attorney General an express written statement that the alleged violations have been cured and that no further violations shall occur, no action shall be initiated against the controller or processor.

C. If a controller or processor continues to violate this chapter following the cure period in subsection B or breaches an express written statement provided to the Attorney General under that subsection, the Attorney General may initiate an action in the name of the Commonwealth and may seek an injunction to restrain any violations of this chapter and civil penalties of up to $7,500 for each violation under this chapter. All civil penalties, expenses, and attorney fees collected pursuant to this chapter shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the Regulatory, Consumer Advocacy, Litigation, and Enforcement Revolving Trust Fund.

D. The Attorney General may recover reasonable expenses incurred in investigating and preparing the case, including attorney fees, in any action initiated under this chapter.

E. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as providing the basis for, or be subject to, a private right of action for violations of this chapter or under any other law.

2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 35, 36; 2022, cc. 451, 452.