CCPA stands for the California Consumer Privacy Act, which is a comprehensive data privacy law that was enacted in the state of California, USA. The CCPA went into effect on January 1, 2020, and it aims to enhance the privacy rights and protections of California residents regarding their personal information. The law grants consumers greater control over their data and requires businesses to be more transparent and accountable in their data handling practices.
Here are some key aspects of the California Consumer Privacy Act:
- Consumer Rights: The CCPA grants California residents several rights regarding their personal information, including the right to know what personal information is collected, the right to request deletion of personal information, and the right to opt out of the sale of personal information.
- Personal Information: The CCPA defines personal information broadly to include not only traditional categories like names and addresses but also internet browsing history, geolocation data, biometric data, and more. It covers a wide range of data that can be linked to an individual.
- Data Collection Transparency: Businesses subject to the CCPA are required to inform consumers about the categories of personal information they collect and the purposes for which the data will be used. This information must be disclosed in a Privacy Policy that is easily accessible to consumers.
- Data Deletion Requests: Consumers have the right to request that businesses delete their personal information, subject to certain exceptions. Businesses must respond to these requests within specific timeframes and provide confirmation of data deletion.
- Opt-Out of Data Sales: The CCPA allows consumers to opt out of the sale of their personal information to third parties. Businesses must provide a clear and prominent “Do Not Sell My Personal Information” link on their websites.
- Non-Discrimination: The law prohibits businesses from discriminating against consumers who exercise their CCPA rights. This means businesses cannot deny goods or services, charge different prices, or provide a lower quality of service to consumers who exercise their privacy rights.
- Children’s Privacy: The CCPA includes specific provisions related to the privacy of children under the age of 16. Businesses must obtain opt-in consent to sell the personal information of minors under 16, and for children under 13, consent must be obtained from a parent or guardian.
- Data Security: Businesses are required to implement reasonable security measures to safeguard personal information from data breaches and unauthorized access.
- Enforcement and Penalties: The California Attorney General has the authority to enforce the CCPA. Violations of the law can result in fines and penalties. Additionally, consumers have a private right of action if their personal information is subject to certain types of data breaches.
- Applicability: The CCPA applies to businesses that meet specific criteria, such as having annual gross revenues over a certain threshold or processing the personal information of a large number of California residents. It also applies to businesses that collect, buy, or sell personal information of California consumers.