California votes in favour of stronger privacy protections
Voters in California have voted in favour of California Proposition 24, known as the Consumer Personal Information Law and Agency Initiative, which seeks to strengthen the right to privacy and data protection across the state. This proposition was on the ballot in California as an initiated state statute and received a majority of 56.12% in support.
Proposition 24 – which is formally titled the California Privacy Rights and Enforcement Act, 2020 – expanded and amended the provisions of the California Consumer Privacy Act, 2018. The ballot summary explains Proposition 24 as follows:
- Permits consumers to prevent businesses from sharing personal information; correct inaccurate personal information; and limit businesses’ use of sensitive personal information (including precise geolocation, race, ethnicity, religion, genetic data, private communications, sexual orientation and specified health information).
- Establishes the California Privacy Protection Agency to additionally enforce and implement consumer privacy laws and impose fines.
- Changes the criteria for which businesses must comply with laws.
- Prohibits businesses’ retention of personal information for longer than is reasonably necessary.
- Triples the maximum penalties for violations concerning consumers under the age of 16 years.
- Authorises civil penalties for the theft of consumer login information, as specified.
Although Proposition 24 has been approved, the results are still subject to certification before being final.
The full text of Proposition 24 (via Ballotpedia) is accessible here.
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