America's Strongest Digital Privacy Law Takes Effect in California
2020-01-02
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1America's strongest digital privacy law has taken effect in California.
2The law, known as the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), requires businesses to inform consumers about the ways in which they collect and share personal information.
3The law gives consumers the right to request that companies not sell or share their data.
4It also requires businesses to destroy information already collected if the consumer asks to have it removed.
5The law covers the sale of data related to almost any sharing of information that can help a business.
6This includes information-sharing between companies as well as the selling of data by third-party businesses.
7Large online businesses, such as Facebook and Google, are affected by the law.
8So are major retail companies.
9Walmart and Home Depot, among others, say they have added "Do Not Sell My Info" links to their websites to make it easier for consumers to exercise their rights.
10The businesses said they have also put the information on signs inside their stores.
11Digital experts say it remains unclear how the CCPA will affect the kind of targeted advertising commonly used by companies like Facebook and Google.
12Facebook collects large amounts of personal data and uses the information to direct ads at different groups of people.
13The data could include someone's sex, race or religion.
14Facebook says it does not share that kind of personal information with advertisers.
15The experts say that, because the law covers any company that meets conditions for interacting with state residents, the California law might end up serving as a legal model for other states.
16"If we do this right in California," said California attorney general Xavier Becerra, the state will "put the capital 'P' back into privacy for all Americans."
17California's legislation is the nation's biggest effort yet aimed at fighting against so-called "surveillance capitalism."
18This term describes the business of profiting from data that most Americans give up - often unknowingly - in exchange for free and often ad-supported services.
19In a statement about the CCPA in October, Becerra said that personal data is what is powering today's wealthy digital economy.
20"It's time we had control over the use of our personal data. That includes keeping it private," he said.
21Becerra added that he sees the law as "a historic step forward" in putting the people of California "first in the age of the internet."
22Some experts have noted that some parts of the law will likely bring legal challenges.
23One such challenge could center on constitutional concerns related to the many different areas covered by the law.
24The experts say the law's many exceptions could also be problematic,
25as well as the fact that it only affects information collected by businesses -- not the government.
26Critics say the law's exceptions permit companies to keep holding personal information on consumers in some situations, even after individuals request that the data be destroyed.
27For example, a company can keep personal data if it decides it needs it to finish the sales process.
28A company could also continue to hold information in a way that the consumer would "reasonably expect" them to.
29Joseph Jerome is a policy director at the privacy group Common Sense Media/Kids Action.
30He told The Associated Press that the law is "more of a 'right to request and hope for deletion.'"
31The law offers stronger protections for children.
32For example, it bans the sale of data on children under 16 without permission.
33Digital experts also noted that the law leaves it up to California citizens themselves to exercise their new rights.
34To make the law effective, consumers will need to take direct action to "opt out" of data sales or request collected information.
35Margot Kaminski is a professor of law at the University of Colorado who studies legal technology issues.
36She told the AP that many people currently do not take the time to read existing privacy agreements because they are long and complex.
37Kaminski said, "If you aren't even reading privacy agreements that you are signing, are you really going to request your data?"
38I'm Bryan Lynn.
1America's strongest digital privacy law has taken effect in California. 2The law, known as the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), requires businesses to inform consumers about the ways in which they collect and share personal information. 3The law gives consumers the right to request that companies not sell or share their data. It also requires businesses to destroy information already collected if the consumer asks to have it removed. 4The law covers the sale of data related to almost any sharing of information that can help a business. This includes information-sharing between companies as well as the selling of data by third-party businesses. 5Large online businesses, such as Facebook and Google, are affected by the law. So are major retail companies. 6Walmart and Home Depot, among others, say they have added "Do Not Sell My Info" links to their websites to make it easier for consumers to exercise their rights. The businesses said they have also put the information on signs inside their stores. 7Digital experts say it remains unclear how the CCPA will affect the kind of targeted advertising commonly used by companies like Facebook and Google. 8Facebook collects large amounts of personal data and uses the information to direct ads at different groups of people. The data could include someone's sex, race or religion. Facebook says it does not share that kind of personal information with advertisers. 9The experts say that, because the law covers any company that meets conditions for interacting with state residents, the California law might end up serving as a legal model for other states. 10"If we do this right in California," said California attorney general Xavier Becerra, the state will "put the capital 'P' back into privacy for all Americans." 11California's legislation is the nation's biggest effort yet aimed at fighting against so-called "surveillance capitalism." This term describes the business of profiting from data that most Americans give up - often unknowingly - in exchange for free and often ad-supported services. 12In a statement about the CCPA in October, Becerra said that personal data is what is powering today's wealthy digital economy. "It's time we had control over the use of our personal data. That includes keeping it private," he said. Becerra added that he sees the law as "a historic step forward" in putting the people of California "first in the age of the internet." 13Some experts have noted that some parts of the law will likely bring legal challenges. One such challenge could center on constitutional concerns related to the many different areas covered by the law. The experts say the law's many exceptions could also be problematic, as well as the fact that it only affects information collected by businesses -- not the government. 14Critics say the law's exceptions permit companies to keep holding personal information on consumers in some situations, even after individuals request that the data be destroyed. For example, a company can keep personal data if it decides it needs it to finish the sales process. A company could also continue to hold information in a way that the consumer would "reasonably expect" them to. 15Joseph Jerome is a policy director at the privacy group Common Sense Media/Kids Action. He told The Associated Press that the law is "more of a 'right to request and hope for deletion.'" 16The law offers stronger protections for children. For example, it bans the sale of data on children under 16 without permission. 17Digital experts also noted that the law leaves it up to California citizens themselves to exercise their new rights. To make the law effective, consumers will need to take direct action to "opt out" of data sales or request collected information. 18Margot Kaminski is a professor of law at the University of Colorado who studies legal technology issues. She told the AP that many people currently do not take the time to read existing privacy agreements because they are long and complex. 19Kaminski said, "If you aren't even reading privacy agreements that you are signing, are you really going to request your data?" 20I'm Bryan Lynn. 21Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on information from The Associated Press and Reuters. Ashley Thompson was the editor. 22We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. 23_________________________________________________________________ 24Words in This Story 25digital - adj. related to computer technology, especially the internet 26consumer - n. person who buys or uses goods or services 27retail - adj. the activity of selling products to the public in shops or on the internet 28surveillance - n. the activity of watching people carefully, often secretly, especially by an army or police force 29challenge - n. an expression of disagreement with ideas, rules or someone's authority 30delete - v. remove something 31opt out - v. choose not to be part of an activity