(SACRAMENTO) – Today, Senator Josh Becker’s (D-San Mateo) Delete Act received support from the Assembly Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection. SB 362 would allow Californians who want to control access to their personal information to hit the “delete” button when it comes to a data broker’s ability to collect and maintain information on them.
“The time of uncontrolled gambling with our personal information is almost over,” said Senator Becker. “Today’s vote brings California closer to finally giving consumers the power to control how their most sensitive personal information is controlled. Data brokers currently have the ability to use data related to reproductive healthcare, geolocation, and purchasing data to sell it to the highest bidder.”
Data brokers collect, analyze, and sell personal information about consumers, aggregating data from public records, social media platforms, online transactions, and much more to create detailed profiles on millions of people. Data brokers have to register with the California Attorney General, but they don’t have to report what kinds of information they collect and sell. Under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), you have a right to require a data broker to delete information they collected directly from you, but you can’t require a broker to delete information they may have acquired about you from other sources.
SB 362 has a simple premise:
- Data brokers would have to register with the California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA) and disclose the types of personal information they collect.
- The CPPA would create a simple way for Californians to direct all data brokers to delete their personal information, free of charge.
- Data brokers that fail to adhere to the law would face civil penalties and administrative fines set by the CPPA.
The bill heads to the Assembly Committee on Appropriations for further consideration.