Washington, D.C. – On April 23, 2019 the Privacy Committee in the California State Assembly will consider a number of bills to amend the California Consumer Privacy Protection Act (CCPA), including AB 1760. This bill, which CFA supports, would improve the CCPA in significant ways.

Statement of Susan Grant

Director of Consumer Protection and Privacy, CFA

Last year California enacted the Consumer Privacy Protection Act (CCPA), the most sweeping state privacy legislation in the country. Though the law does not go into effect until 2020, there are several bills in the California legislature this year that would either strengthen or weaken it. On April 23, the Privacy Committee in the State Assembly will consider AB 1760, which we support. Dubbed “Privacy for All,” this bill, introduced by Assembly Member Buffy Wicks, would improve the CCPA by:

• Enabling consumers to learn which companies have received their personal information through a sale or other forms of sharing.
• Requiring companies that share consumers’ data, as well as those that sell it, to get their OPT-IN consent to do so.
• Preventing companies from punishing people who exercise their privacy rights by charging them higher prices or providing them with an inferior products or services.

Recent polling in California shows that voters strongly support they key principles in this legislation. California has long been a leader in privacy protection, and how AB 1760 fares will be the first big test of the state’s resolve to retain that leadership. We are gratified that despite fierce opposition by advertisers and other corporate interests, 24 tech companies have also voiced their support for this legislation. They understand that privacy protection is good for business because it instills consumer confidence. It is time once again for California lawmakers to stand up for consumers and show the way forward so that “privacy for all” will become a reality, not only in California but across the nation.

For more information on the Consumer Privacy Protection Act, a more in-depth blog can be read here.