New Sweeping California Privacy Law

On June 28, 2018, California enacted one of the most far-reaching consumer protection privacy laws in the nation, the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (Act), which is scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2020. Applauded by many consumers and privacy advocates, the sweeping legislation places onerous new requirements and restrictions on businesses that collect and sell personal information of California residents. Companies that fail to comply with the law may be subject to private civil litigation brought by aggrieved consumers seeking recovery of statutory damages, in addition to enforcement by the California Attorney General and the imposition of hefty penalties. This article provides a brief overview of some of the key provisions in the new Act.