California passes law to make it easier for consumers to delete their personal data
California Governor Signs Data Deletion Law
California Governor Signs Data Deletion Law, Making It Easier for Consumers to Control Their Personal Information
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill on Tuesday that will make it easier for consumers to delete their personal information from data brokers. The bill, SB 362, known as the "Deletion Act," requires the California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA) to create and launch a tool that will allow residents of the state to request that all data brokers delete their information.
There are approximately 500 data brokers registered in California, making it the state with the most data brokers in the United States. California is also the first state to pass a law that simplifies the process of deleting personal data.
"Data brokers have thousands of data points on each of us, and they're currently selling reproductive healthcare, geolocation, and buying data to the highest bidder," said Senator Josh Becker, the author of the bill, in a statement.
Under the Deletion Act, each data broker must register with the CPPA and fulfill deletion requests within 45 days or face penalties, such as fines.
The Deletion Act has faced opposition from organizations such as the National Advertising Association, which has expressed concerns about schemes that charge consumers exorbitant fees to delete their data and the inability of small businesses or nonprofits to reach their target audience without this detailed information.
How the Deletion Act Works
The Deletion Act will create a new tool on the CPPA website that will allow consumers to request that their data be deleted from data brokers. The tool will be available in both English and Spanish.
To request deletion, consumers will need to provide their name, email address, and date of birth. They will also need to provide a reason for requesting deletion.
Data brokers will have 45 days to fulfill deletion requests. If a data broker fails to fulfill a deletion request, it could face a fine of up to $7,500.
The Impact of the Deletion Act
The Deletion Act is a significant step forward for consumer privacy in California. The law will give consumers more control over their personal information and make it more difficult for data brokers to sell or share their data without their consent.
The law is also likely to have a significant impact on the data broker industry. Data brokers will need to invest in new technologies and processes to comply with the law. They will also need to be more transparent about how they collect and use personal information.
Additional Information
In addition to the Deletion Act, California has passed a number of other laws to protect consumer privacy. These laws include the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), which gives consumers the right to access, delete, and opt out of the sale of their personal information.
The Deletion Act is a step forward for consumer privacy in the United States. The law will make it easier for consumers to control their personal information and protect their privacy.
California Residents
California residents can learn more about the Deletion Act and how to request deletion on the CPPA website.
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