federal comprehensive data privacy legislation despite the fact that all Americans deserve strong privacy and security protections. This issue is in the spotlight again because a draft of theAmerican Data Privacy Protection Act, where there was strong sentiment among committee members and witnesses for an urgent need for a national standard.
But the APRA draft is still in its early stages, which means that California leaders can help lead discussions and provide suggestions to help guide and improve a law that protects all Americans while ensuring California businesses can thrive, even if that law overrides the CPRA. In fact, overriding California’s misguided law is one of its selling points.
The legal mechanics of each state’s privacy laws are different, too. Under the CPRA, a business can process sensitive data but must allow a consumer to opt-out. At the same time, recent laws in several other states require consumers to opt-in for companies to process sensitive data. A federal law that provides clear definitions and legal mechanisms for processing data would pave the way for businesses to comply efficiently.