Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

US Consumer Spending Falls as Trump Tariff’s Muddle Economy

16 hours ago

US Supreme Court Lets Parents Take Kids Out of Classes With LGBT Storybooks

18 hours ago

In Win for Trump, US Supreme Court Limits Judges’ Power to Block Birthright Citizenship Order

19 hours ago

California’s Newsom Sues Fox News for $787 Million for Defamation Over Trump Call

19 hours ago

Motorcycle Collides With Tractor in Fatal Fresno County Collision

19 hours ago

Fourth of July Celebrations Begin Saturday. Here’s Your Fresno Area Guide

21 hours ago

Bill Moyers, Broadcaster and LBJ’s White House Press Secretary, Dies at 91

2 days ago

State Department Approves $30 Million for Gaza Humanitarian Foundation

2 days ago

Cargo Ship That Caught Fire Carrying Electric Vehicles Sinks in the Pacific

2 days ago

4 Million Acres of California Forests Could Lose Protection. What Trump’s ‘Roadless Rule’ Repeal Could Do

3 days ago
State Lawmakers Block Expansion of Data Privacy Law
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 6 years ago on
May 17, 2019

Share

SACRAMENTO — California lawmakers blocked an effort to expand the state’s sweeping new data privacy law Thursday, handing a victory to the tech industry as it faces mounting scrutiny over how it collects, stores and sells consumers’ information.

The California Consumer Privacy Act will be the first of its kind in the United States when it takes effect next year. It gives customers the right to know what data companies are collecting from them as well as the right to delete and restrict the sale of that information.

Lawmakers passed it hastily last year to avoid a privacy-related ballot measure that business and tech groups opposed. Legislation is easier to fix and update than a ballot measure, and lawmakers pledged to keep working on it.

The current law would let consumers sue only if the data is breached in certain circumstances.

State Attorney General Xavier Becerra and some privacy advocates called on lawmakers to go further this year and give the public a right to take companies to court over violations of law and to toughen how the state enforces its provisions.

Effort to Beef Up Law Dies in Committee

Privacy advocates rallied this year behind the idea of letting consumers sue companies over other violations of the act, arguing it would ensure accountability in the tech industry. Democratic Sen. Hannah Beth Jackson of Santa Barbara introduced a bill that would have, for example, allowed people to sue if a company refused to delete data when a customer requested it.

The current law would let consumers sue only if the data is breached in certain circumstances.

But the Senate Appropriations Committee killed Jackson’s proposal. Jackson pointed to the political influence of the tech industry as the legislation’s prospects dimmed.

“The truth of the matter is the tech world is such a behemoth at this point in time, they have so much money, they have really been driving this whole discussion,” Jackson said.

Major tech companies, including Amazon and Facebook, lobbied lawmakers about the legislation, according to disclosures filed with the California Secretary of State’s Office.

State Chamber of Commerce Opposed It

A long list of other business groups also came out against the bill, suggesting it would be a boon for trial lawyers while tying up businesses in litigation and contending enforcement is best left to the attorney general’s office.

“The truth of the matter is the tech world is such a behemoth at this point in time, they have so much money, they have really been driving this whole discussion.” — state Sen. Hannah Beth Jackson

The California chamber of commerce, CalChamber, said the goal of the bill “appears to be lawsuits and attorney’s fees.”

“Compliance with the CCPA should be the goal of any regulatory enforcement and having individual trial lawyers responsible for enforcement as is the case in SB 561 will not serve that goal,” said Sarah Boot of CalChamber.

Meanwhile, business groups are pushing various bills to either tinker with the law or create some large exceptions.

Grocery stores and other businesses, for example, are backing a bill that would allow businesses to continue operating loyalty card programs. Other legislation would allow companies to sell data for certain purposes from consumers who have opted out of having their data sold.

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Trump Sends in DOGE to Slash Federal Gun Regulations by July 4

DON'T MISS

Tensions Flare at Announcement of Major Fresno County Gang Takedown

DON'T MISS

Measure C ‘Blackmailed’ As Fresno Enviro Coalition Gets Huge Say on Transportation Tax

DON'T MISS

Despite $49M Deficit, Fresno Unified Gives Top Brass 5% Raise, 3% One-Time Bonus

DON'T MISS

US Consumer Spending Falls as Trump Tariff’s Muddle Economy

DON'T MISS

US Supreme Court Preserves Key Element of Obamacare

DON'T MISS

US Supreme Court Lets Parents Take Kids Out of Classes With LGBT Storybooks

DON'T MISS

Fresno Unified Trustees Will Get Automatic Raises on Tuesday

DON'T MISS

Alleged ‘Fake’ ICE Agents Charged. Fresno Court Date Set

DON'T MISS

In Win for Trump, US Supreme Court Limits Judges’ Power to Block Birthright Citizenship Order

UP NEXT

US Justice Department to Probe Hiring Practices at University of California

UP NEXT

Newsom and Legislature Tangle With Construction Unions Over Minimum Wage

UP NEXT

4 Million Acres of California Forests Could Lose Protection. What Trump’s ‘Roadless Rule’ Repeal Could Do

UP NEXT

Trump Administration Orders CA to Strip Trans Athlete of Medals

UP NEXT

SoCal Vice Mayor Urges Street Gang ‘Cholos’ to Rise Up Against ICE

UP NEXT

How a Birthday Boat Ride on Lake Tahoe Turned Tragic

UP NEXT

Suspect in Bombing at California Fertility Clinic Dies in Federal Custody

UP NEXT

Poll: Most Californians Prefer Lower Taxes and Fewer Services, Skeptical of Gov’t Spending

UP NEXT

Victims Identified as Death Toll Climbs to 8 in Lake Tahoe Boating Tragedy

UP NEXT

Dying Honey Bees Threaten CA Economy. Can Central Valley Lawmakers Save Them?

Despite $49M Deficit, Fresno Unified Gives Top Brass 5% Raise, 3% One-Time Bonus

14 hours ago

US Consumer Spending Falls as Trump Tariff’s Muddle Economy

16 hours ago

US Supreme Court Preserves Key Element of Obamacare

17 hours ago

US Supreme Court Lets Parents Take Kids Out of Classes With LGBT Storybooks

18 hours ago

Fresno Unified Trustees Will Get Automatic Raises on Tuesday

18 hours ago

Alleged ‘Fake’ ICE Agents Charged. Fresno Court Date Set

19 hours ago

In Win for Trump, US Supreme Court Limits Judges’ Power to Block Birthright Citizenship Order

19 hours ago

California’s Newsom Sues Fox News for $787 Million for Defamation Over Trump Call

19 hours ago

Motorcycle Collides With Tractor in Fatal Fresno County Collision

19 hours ago

Ringo Is Ready to Rock Your World With ‘Pawsitive’ Vibes!

19 hours ago

Trump Sends in DOGE to Slash Federal Gun Regulations by July 4

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Government Efficiency has sent staff to the agency that enforces federal gun laws with the goal of revis...

13 hours ago

American Flag Revolver
13 hours ago

Trump Sends in DOGE to Slash Federal Gun Regulations by July 4

Rob_Bonta_Speaking_At_Press_Conference_1280x720
13 hours ago

Tensions Flare at Announcement of Major Fresno County Gang Takedown

Garry_Bredefeld_Sandra_Celedon_Mesure_C_1280x720
14 hours ago

Measure C ‘Blackmailed’ As Fresno Enviro Coalition Gets Huge Say on Transportation Tax

Fresno_Unified_Raises_1280x720
14 hours ago

Despite $49M Deficit, Fresno Unified Gives Top Brass 5% Raise, 3% One-Time Bonus

Eastern Market in Washington, D.C.
16 hours ago

US Consumer Spending Falls as Trump Tariff’s Muddle Economy

Obamacare Sign in San Ysidro, California
17 hours ago

US Supreme Court Preserves Key Element of Obamacare

Pride Flags Fly in New York
18 hours ago

US Supreme Court Lets Parents Take Kids Out of Classes With LGBT Storybooks

18 hours ago

Fresno Unified Trustees Will Get Automatic Raises on Tuesday

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend