Major U.S. Tech Firms Are Trying to Kill This New Digital Privacy Measure

Privacy Credit: CAprivacy.org
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Californians will vote on a new proposal this November that will implement wide-ranging digital privacy rights — but a bevy of major tech firms are paying big money to make sure it goes nowhere.

The California Consumer Privacy Act, as the initiative is called, can be likened to a state-level version of the European Union’s recently implemented GDPR. It would introduce a range of regulations concerning digital privacy rights and user data.

For example, companies would be required to disclose what kind of data they collect on users. It would also allow users to opt out of having their information sold.

If the measure passes, it would apply to “businesses that earn $50,000,000 a year in revenue, sell 100,000 consumer records each year or derive 50 percent of their annual revenue by selling your personal information.”

Like the GDPR, the initiative would apply to all companies that collect data on Californians — whether they are located in the state or not. And by the looks of it, Big Tech and Big Telecom might not be too happy about the proposal.

According to state disclosure records, major firms like Facebook, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, AT&T, Verizon, and Uber have all made substantial contributions to an organization that is campaigning against the proposal.

The initiative has just recently submitted 600,000 signatures. Now, state officials are sorting through those to determine if they have the required 366,000 legitimate signatures to qualify for a spot on the ballot come November.

Critics of the initiative, mostly in the tech realm, say that the CCPA is flawed — and could do radical damage to their business models.

Microsoft, for example, said in a statement that it believes “privacy is a fundamental human right.” But the company says the initiative could have “unintended consequences” and that there is a “better way” to ensure consumer privacy rights are protected.

But proponents of the measure maintain that it wouldn’t harm business interests and that major revenue drivers like targeted advertising would still work if it passes.

In the meantime, the act’s supporters are eagerly awaiting word that the measure will make the ballot. They’re also urging supposedly pro-privacy tech firms to put their money where their mouths are.

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