Technology companies collect all sorts of data on their users.
The terms of service located on their web sites spell out for users
the types of data collected and how that data will be used. The
data collected from users is extremely useful for tech companies in
terms of how to market to them further, and accordingly, that data
has tremendous economic value.
Along comes the Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, who
according to APNews.com, has announced that California consumers should share in
the billions of dollars that tech companies make on personal
data they collect. Indeed, Governor Newsom reportedly has asked his
aides to come up with a proposal for what has been referred to as a
“data dividend” for California residents. However, it
is not clear whether he envisions a tax on tech companies, refunds
to users, or some other idea.
