State Chief Privacy Officers Face Increased Workload Amid Resource Constraints
The National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) has released a report highlighting the growing responsibilities of Chief Privacy Officers (CPOs) in state governments. The report notes that the number of states with dedicated CPOs has nearly doubled from 17 in 2020 to 31 in 2026. Despite this increase, CPOs are facing challenges due to insufficient staffing, authority, and funding. The role of CPOs has expanded beyond legal compliance to include enterprise privacy governance, data risk management, and vendor review. However, many states are still developing their privacy programs, with 54% in the process of establishing a privacy framework. The report emphasizes the need for collaboration across government agencies to address privacy challenges effectively. 
