Fight for Digital Privacy Rights Continue in Tech-Focused California

It is shameful that top technology innovation companies, who prosper and have a thirst for vast amounts of private user-data, are fighting to water-down protective regulations. California and a handful of other states are leading the way to protect its citizens. The California’s Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), which goes into effect in January 2020, will require businesses to disclose, at the consumers request, what personal data and sources has been collected. Privacy continues to garner concerns with people across the country due to a greater awareness of the vast potential impacts. It has reached the point that legislators are wanting to act, to protect their constituents.

Many tech companies unsuccessfully lobbied against the bill (ex. Facebook, AT&T, Verizon and Cox Communications) and other tech giants (ex. Google, Amazon, Facebook, Microsoft, Uber, and Lyft) are now working to push through amendments to limit the scope and open loopholes. This maneuvering is an attempt to reduce the transparency to users, greatly diminish the likelihood of penalties, and avoid business disruption when violations occur. The reason is simple: they profit from the use of people’s private data. Regulations that institute limitations, accountability, and risk of enforcement or penalties represents a danger to their business and profitability.