NJ looks to become next front in debate over data privacy TRENTON — State lawmakers are drafting and refining bills that could make New Jersey the next front in the nationwide debate over data privacy. California has a well-known data privacy law, Virginia enacted its own version last month, and there is renewed hope Congress may set a new national standard. Ashkan Soltani, former chief technologist for the Federal Trade Commission, supports states trying new frameworks – if they’re effective. But at a recent Assembly Science, Innovation and Technology Committee hearing, he said the New Jersey proposals wouldn’t be. “Of the three bills that I reviewed, I identified multiple loopholes which effectively would render them useless,” Soltani said.