A new California privacy law is focusing on giving consumers the right to know.
The California Consumer Privacy Act, also referred to as CCPA, went into effect on Jan. 1.
Under the new law, companies are required to tell you, upon your request, what information is needed from you and why.
“I think its fair to know what companies do with your information. I think it's reassuring that that’s now going to be accessible," said Scott Reaves.
Some of the other areas the new law covers is whether your personal information has been sold or disclosed to a third party and denying businesses the right to use personal information for users under the age of 16 without the parent or child opting in.
If you want your information to completely be erased, you can also request that businesses do so.
Mary Stone Ross, a cybersecurity expert who helped develop the public initiative which eventually became the CCPA, says the law doesn't necessarily impact every business.
“We wrote it to make sure that it wouldn’t be a burden on a small business, but with that said, if it’s a small business that 50 percent or more of their revenue is from selling personal information, then they are covered by the CCPA,” said Ross.
The act covers a California resident regardless of where the business selling the information is located.
To read the law in its entirety, click here.
