Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
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?

UP NEXT

Trump Eyes Major Funding Cuts for California, Including All Public Universities

Southern California Air Regulators Weigh a Plan to Phase Out Gas Furnaces and Water Heaters

16 hours ago

US Supreme Court Allows DOGE Broad Access to Social Security Data

16 hours ago

World’s Largest Almond Processor Will Shutter Sacramento Plant. 600 Workers Impacted

The world’s largest almond processor, Blue Diamond Growers, says it will close its Sacramento processing plant this year The almond co...

14 hours ago

14 hours ago

World’s Largest Almond Processor Will Shutter Sacramento Plant. 600 Workers Impacted

15 hours ago

Trump Eyes Major Funding Cuts for California, Including All Public Universities

16 hours ago

Farming Regulation Costs Rise 1,300% Since 2006: Cal Poly

17 hours ago

Southern California Air Regulators Weigh a Plan to Phase Out Gas Furnaces and Water Heaters

17 hours ago

US Supreme Court Allows DOGE Broad Access to Social Security Data

17 hours ago

Doctors Were Preparing to Remove Their Organs. Then They Woke Up.

17 hours ago

Abrego Garcia Is Returned to US From El Salvador

18 hours ago

Proud Boys Convicted in Jan. 6 Attack Sue Government on Claims of ‘Political Persecution’

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

Search

Send this to a friend