Privacy and data rules
173 of 521 companies added a paragraph in Risk Factors that uses one of these words:
privacy, GDPR, personal data, personal information.
The paragraph is in the latest 10-K and nothing like it was in the one before.
It counts text; it does not say how serious a risk is. Words in capitals only (such as AI) must be in capitals.
By sector
Sector is the SEC's industry description of the company. Each count opens that sector's quotes below.
| Sector | Companies | Compared |
|---|---|---|
| Orthopedic, Prosthetic & Surgical Appliances & Supplies | 5 | 5 |
| Computer Peripheral Equipment, NEC | 2 | 2 |
| Instruments For Meas & Testing of Electricity & Elec Signals | 2 | 2 |
| Men's & Boys' Furnishgs, Work Clothg, & Allied Garments | 2 | 2 |
| Rubber & Plastics Footwear | 2 | 2 |
| Air Courier Services | 1 | 1 |
| Apparel & Other Finishd Prods of Fabrics & Similar Matl | 1 | 1 |
| Bottled & Canned Soft Drinks & Carbonated Waters | 1 | 1 |
| Electronic Components & Accessories | 1 | 1 |
| Electronic Connectors | 1 | 1 |
| Engines & Turbines | 1 | 1 |
| Gas & Other Services Combined | 1 | 1 |
| General Industrial Machinery & Equipment, NEC | 1 | 1 |
| Grain Mill Products | 1 | 1 |
| Leather & Leather Products | 1 | 1 |
| Meat Packing Plants | 1 | 1 |
| Misc Industrial & Commercial Machinery & Equipment | 1 | 1 |
| Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products | 1 | 1 |
| Oil & Gas Field Machinery & Equipment | 1 | 1 |
| Paints, Varnishes, Lacquers, Enamels & Allied Prods | 1 | 1 |
| Paper Mills | 1 | 1 |
| Radiotelephone Communications | 1 | 1 |
| Real Estate | 1 | 1 |
| Retail-Drug Stores and Proprietary Stores | 1 | 1 |
| Retail-Eating & Drinking Places | 1 | 1 |
| Retail-Radio, Tv & Consumer Electronics Stores | 1 | 1 |
| Retail-Retail Stores, NEC | 1 | 1 |
| Rolling Drawing & Extruding of Nonferrous Metals | 1 | 1 |
| Services-Advertising Agencies | 1 | 1 |
| Services-Detective, Guard & Armored Car Services | 1 | 1 |
| Services-Equipment Rental & Leasing, NEC | 1 | 1 |
| Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation | 1 | 1 |
| Services-Video Tape Rental | 1 | 1 |
| Special Industry Machinery, NEC | 1 | 1 |
| Water Supply | 1 | 1 |
| Wholesale-Medical, Dental & Hospital Equipment & Supplies | 1 | 1 |
| Computer Communications Equipment | 2 | 3 |
| Electronic Computers | 2 | 3 |
| Measuring & Controlling Devices, NEC | 2 | 3 |
| Retail-Auto Dealers & Gasoline Stations | 2 | 3 |
| Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research | 2 | 3 |
| Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design | 2 | 3 |
| Services-Consumer Credit Reporting, Collection Agencies | 2 | 3 |
| Services-Prepackaged Software | 12 | 19 |
| Finance Services | 17 | 28 |
| Biological Products, (No Diagnostic Substances) | 3 | 5 |
| Computer Storage Devices | 3 | 5 |
| Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, and Control | 3 | 5 |
| Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) | 2 | 4 |
| Retail-Eating Places | 2 | 4 |
| Services-Computer Processing & Data Preparation | 2 | 4 |
| Accident & Health Insurance | 1 | 2 |
| Cigarettes | 1 | 2 |
| Cutlery, Handtools & General Hardware | 1 | 2 |
| Industrial Organic Chemicals | 1 | 2 |
| Mining & Quarrying of Nonmetallic Minerals (No Fuels) | 1 | 2 |
| Paperboard Containers & Boxes | 1 | 2 |
| Printed Circuit Boards | 1 | 2 |
| Radio & Tv Broadcasting & Communications Equipment | 1 | 2 |
| Retail-Auto & Home Supply Stores | 1 | 2 |
| Services-Medical Laboratories | 1 | 2 |
| Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings | 1 | 2 |
| Telephone Communications (No Radiotelephone) | 1 | 2 |
| Transportation Services | 1 | 2 |
| Trucking (No Local) | 1 | 2 |
| Wholesale-Groceries & Related Products | 1 | 2 |
| Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. | 2 | 5 |
| Services-Business Services, NEC | 6 | 16 |
| Investment Advice | 3 | 8 |
| National Commercial Banks | 4 | 11 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts | 9 | 27 |
| Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service | 2 | 6 |
| Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip | 1 | 3 |
| Computer & office Equipment | 1 | 3 |
| Life Insurance | 1 | 3 |
| Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations | 1 | 3 |
| Retail-Building Materials, Hardware, Garden Supply | 1 | 3 |
| Soap, Detergents, Cleang Preparations, Perfumes, Cosmetics | 1 | 3 |
| Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus | 3 | 10 |
| Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies | 2 | 7 |
| Semiconductors & Related Devices | 4 | 15 |
| Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys | 1 | 4 |
| Security & Commodity Brokers, Dealers, Exchanges & Services | 1 | 4 |
| Hospital & Medical Service Plans | 1 | 5 |
| Hotels & Motels | 1 | 5 |
| Laboratory Analytical Instruments | 1 | 5 |
| Retail-Variety Stores | 1 | 5 |
| Pharmaceutical Preparations | 2 | 11 |
| Fire, Marine & Casualty Insurance | 2 | 12 |
| Petroleum Refining | 1 | 6 |
| State Commercial Banks | 1 | 6 |
| Crude Petroleum & Natural Gas | 1 | 7 |
| Electric Services | 2 | 15 |
432 paragraphs · Services-Medical Laboratories show all sectors
The Company’s operations rely on the continued performance and security of its information technology systems. System failures, cybersecurity incidents, disruptions, or other issues affecting information technology systems could impair data processing, service delivery, billing, and customer communications. The Company also relies on third parties for critical services, including transportation, supplies, and data processing and expects them to comply with applicable laws and regulations, including environmental, health and safety, and privacy and data security laws. Failures by these providers, whether operational, legal, or cybersecurity-related, and issues affecting their information technology systems, could disrupt services, compromise personal or other confidential information, expose the Company to liability and could materially impact its business, even if the Company is not responsible for the underlying cause of any such failure or issue. In addition, the Company may be subject to regulatory, contractual, or other obligations arising from any such failure or issues. Despite contingency plans, risks remain, and a significant information technology system disruption could adversely affect the Company’s reputation, operations, financial condition, and profitability.
Read in the 10-K filed Feb 24, 2026 ↗
In the U.S., HIPAA imposes detailed requirements on the use, disclosure, and safeguarding of PHI. HIPAA violations can lead to significant civil and criminal penalties. HIPAA also provides individuals with certain privacy rights regarding their PHI
Read in the 10-K filed Feb 24, 2026 ↗
and requires the Company to notify individuals about its privacy practices. The Company has implemented policies to comply with HIPAA, but evolving regulations—including a proposed rule to clarify the HIPAA Security Rule—may increase compliance obligations. State laws, such as the CCPA and the Washington My Health My Data Act, impose additional requirements that may exceed requirements under HIPAA and other federal standards. The Company must also comply with restrictions on international data transfers imposed through standards such as the DOJ’s Data Security Program, and emerging laws regulating AI, algorithms, and automated processing, which may increase compliance costs.
Read in the 10-K filed Feb 24, 2026 ↗
Internationally, the Company is subject to data protection laws, such as the EU GDPR and the U.K. GDPR, which impose strict requirements and significant penalties for noncompliance. Similar laws have been enacted in other regions where the Company operates, including Asia, Latin America, and other parts of Europe.
Read in the 10-K filed Feb 24, 2026 ↗
Compliance with these complex and evolving regulations may require changes to the Company’s business practices and result in increased operational costs. Failure to comply could materially and adversely affect the Company’s business and reputation, result in the imposition of fines, penalties, or orders to stop certain activities, and potentially expose the Company to actions for the wrongful use or disclosure of personal information.
Read in the 10-K filed Feb 24, 2026 ↗