California has passed three new bills designed to boost privacy for internet users, governor Gavin Newsom's office announced. The biggest one, AB 566, builds on a 2018 law by requiring web browsers to let users universally opt-out of allowing third parties to sell their data.
The original California Consumer Privacy Act from 2018 only let Californians opt out third-party data sharing one site at a time. However, AB 566 signed into law yesterday by Newsom requires web browsers like Chrome, Firefox and Safari to allow users to opt out of all third-party tracking with a single setting. "This law will help people protect their personal data by allowing them to simply switch a toggle that tells businesses they can’t sell or share it," said Consumer Reports policy analyst Matt Schwartz.
The bill was originally passed by the California legislature last month, but its signing by the governor wasn't necessarily a done deal. Newsom vetoed a similar bill last year for being overly broad as it also applied to smartphone operating systems. He also said that major browsers already offer one-click opt out for third-party data sharing, though Consumer Watchdog said at the time that none offer a universal way to decline data sharing.
Two other bills will also help internet users keep their data to themselves. SB 361 boosts the Data Broker Registration Law (Delete Act) signed into law in October 2023 by giving consumers more information about which personal information is collected by data brokers and who else might have it. AB 656, meanwhile, requires social media companies to make canceling an account straightforward and clear while it triggers full deletion of the user’s personal data.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/california-just-passed-three-bills-to-boost-internet-privacy-120031025.html?src=rss
