On October 10, 2023, a new law was enacted in California, establishing a ‘one-stop’ mechanism for data broker deletion requests. This law, Senate Bill 362, otherwise known as the Delete Act, was signed into law by California Governor Gavin Newsom. It adds to the state’s existing laws on data broker registration and moreover, it strengthens California’s primary privacy law, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) by bolstering residents’ rights to have their personal information deleted.
As per the enactment, California residents can effectually hit the “backspace” on data brokers, i.e. companies that collect and sell citizens’ personal data, conducting business in the state. Such entities must now adhere to requests for deletion of individuals’ personal data, offering a degree of control over personal information.
This new legislation comes as a consequential development in the ongoing national discussions about consumer data privacy. With the rapid advancement of technology and the increasing amount of citizen data being harvested and brokered, legislation like the Delete Act is an effort which grants citizens more control and security over their personal information.
For more detailed information on the Delete Act and its implications, you can delve into the original report by law firm Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati on JDSupra.