2025 Year In Review: California Shine The Light Request Trends

Throughout 2025, we saw a noticeable uptick in requests from California residents invoking their rights under the state's "Shine the Light" law, Cal. Civ. Code § 1798.83. These requests come from "customers" who claim to have an "established business relationship" with a company and who seek information about whether that company shares personal information for "direct marketing purposes." While these letters rarely threaten litigation outright, they signal growing customer awareness of privacy rights. Companies doing business in California should be aware of their obligations under the law and have a plan for responding to such requests. As enforcement trends continue to evolve in California and beyond, we invite you to stay informed by subscribing to the WilmerHale Privacy and Cybersecurity Law Blog.