cside Launches AI Solution to Expose Hidden Third-Party Data Risks
New York, Wednesday, 21 January 2026.
Addressing a landscape where 76% of CCPA lawsuits cite security failures, cside’s new AI tool provides crucial visibility into third-party scripts, helping firms navigate 20 recently enacted state privacy laws.
The Hidden Vulnerability in Modern Web Architecture
The core challenge facing digital enterprises today lies in the opacity of their own digital supply chains. According to data accompanying the launch, 94% of modern websites rely on third-party scripts to function, creating a significant visibility gap for IT and compliance teams [1]. This architecture, while essential for functionality, exposes organizations to client-side attacks where malicious actors can exfiltrate sensitive user data directly from the browser. The financial implications of such vulnerabilities are historically severe; for instance, a client-side security failure previously resulted in a £20 million GDPR fine for British Airways [1]. Traditional server-side security tools often fail to detect these browser-level behaviors, leaving companies exposed to what cside CEO Simon Wijckmans describes as major privacy liability concerns due to a lack of visibility into third-party tool behaviors [1].
Navigating a Fragmented Regulatory Landscape
The release of Privacy Watch arrives precisely as the U.S. regulatory environment becomes increasingly complex. Between 2023 and 2026, 20 new state-level privacy laws were enacted, creating a patchwork of compliance requirements for businesses operating nationally [1]. Most recently, on January 1, 2026, comprehensive consumer privacy laws took effect in Indiana, Kentucky, and Rhode Island, alongside amendments to Oregon’s Consumer Privacy Act [2][3]. Furthermore, the regulatory scope is expanding beyond standard data privacy; California’s Transparency in Frontier Artificial Intelligence Act also came into force on the first of the year, signaling a broader legislative push toward digital accountability [2][3]. This surge in legislation requires organizations to maintain rigorous documentation and transparency regarding data sharing and cross-border transfers [1].
Automating Defense and Compliance
To address these converging pressures, Privacy Watch utilizes artificial intelligence to monitor the behavior of third-party scripts continuously, rather than relying on static scans. The tool is designed to detect signals of malicious data exfiltration that traditional software often misses [1]. By providing visibility into exactly what third-party tools are doing on a site, the platform allows businesses to bridge the operational gap between security and legal requirements. As Mike Kutlu, Head of GTM at cside, noted, the objective is to combine the deep visibility typical of security tools with the automation necessary for compliance, enabling firms to demonstrate adherence to regulations quickly without compromising their security posture [1].