California Enacts Groundbreaking Privacy Law Mandating One-Click Opt-Out for Data Sharing
California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed the *California Opt Me Out Act*, a significant privacy law requiring web browsers to offer an easy, universal opt-out mechanism for data sharing. This law mandates that browsers like Chrome, Safari, and Edge provide a clear one-click option for users to stop data collection and sales. The law takes effect on January 1, 2027, and aims to enhance consumer control over personal data. Additionally, California residents can soon delete their data from hundreds of data brokers through an online form, further empowering privacy rights.
According to the blog 9to5Mac, the law requires browsers to provide a clear, one-click mechanism for Californians to opt out of data sharing across websites. The bill states that a business shall not develop or maintain a browser that does not include functionality configurable by a consumer that enables the browser to send an opt-out preference signal to businesses with which the consumer interacts through the browser.
While the law is a major step forward for privacy rights in the United States, it is important to note that it does not take effect immediately. Californians will need to wait until January 1, 2027, for the law to become active. However, some states, including Texas, Colorado, New Jersey, and Maryland, already allow residents to make opt-out demands automatic when they surf the web, provided they use browsers that voluntarily offer this option, such as DuckDuckGo, Firefox, and Brave.
Under California’s new law, soon, just using Google’s Chrome, Apple’s Safari, and Microsoft’s Edge can command companies not to sell your data or pass it along for ad targeting. This is an imperfect but potent and simple way to flex privacy rights. It becomes even more powerful with another simple privacy measure in California, which will also take effect on January 1, 2027. California residents can fill out an online form once to completely and repeatedly wipe their data from hundreds of data brokers that package your personal information for sale.
The article also suggests other ways readers can try a one-click privacy option now. Some national companies respect one-click privacy opt-out requests from everyone. This happens automatically if you use DuckDuckGo and Brave; however, with Firefox, you may need to change a setting. Additionally, the software Privacy Badger from the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a consumer privacy advocacy group, works in the background to order websites not to sell information they’re collecting about you. The app Permission Slip from Consumer Reports can also help users by giving the app basic information, which will assist in telling companies not to sell your information or to delete it if you have the right to do so.
While the law is a significant step forward, it is important to consider that it may not cover all data collection practices. However, it is a powerful tool for consumers to protect their personal data. The law’s implementation on January 1, 2027, will mark a pivotal moment in the ongoing battle for digital privacy in the United States.