24 Tech Companies Back CCPA Amendment to Make It Stronger: Privacy for All Act of 2019

Filed under Opinion on 16 Apr 2019

Last year California passed the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), giving residents more rights over their personal information. The pro-privacy law sets a new standard of trust online in the U.S., requiring companies doing business in California with revenues over $25 million or who process information from over 50,000 residents a year to comply with a new set of personal information rights. These rights include the right to know what info is collected, shared, or sold, the right to opt-out of having information sold, and more.

CCPA is set to take effect in 2020 and is without a doubt a major advancement in individual privacy rights for Americans. As an Internet privacy company that empowers users to take control of personal information, we support the law. And we want to see it become even better.

That’s why today we’re sending a letter to the California Assembly’s Privacy Committee backing an amendment to CCPA, proposed by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks in conjunction with privacy groups (including EFF, ACLU of California, Common Sense Kids Action, Consumer Reports, and Privacy Rights Clearinghouse). The amendment, entitled the Privacy for All Act of 2019, extends CCPA personal information rights further, including allowing consumers to opt-out of having information shared (and not just sold), giving them the ability to sue companies for violations, and more.

True to our belief that raising the standard of trust online requires a collective effort, 23 other tech companies have co-signed the letter with us. Together, we’re demonstrating that the industry supports this amendment, that privacy is good for business, and that the Assembly should adopt this amendment.

April 16, 2019

Dear Assemblymember Chau,

We are pleased to support A.B. 1760, sponsored by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, as a vital addition to privacy protections in the state of California. We thank you for your commitment to the essential area of privacy, and your crucial role in the passage of the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) last year.

We are a broad coalition of for-profit companies that share that privacy commitment and support the CCPA. All of us have California customers and we are currently subject to CCPA’s requirements or may be subject to them in the foreseeable future. As companies that put user privacy at the core of our products and services, we also support legislation that builds on CCPA’s foundation. Our relationship with our users is built on trust—trust that the data they provide to us and other companies will be used only in the ways they understand and expect.

A.B. 1760 holds all covered companies to that standard and makes sure that Californians’ information is protected by default. It will give all Californians the knowledge and power to truly control their personal information, as well as the ability to practically exercise and legally enforce their privacy rights, all without being punished with higher prices or degraded service.

We appreciate and support your committee’s important efforts to provide all Californians with the privacy rights they want and deserve. Thank you again for your leadership on this important issue.

Sincerely,

Duck Duck Go, Inc.
Gabriel Weinberg, Founder and CEO

Brave Software Inc.
Dr. Johnny Ryan, Chief Policy & Industry Relations Officer

Proton Technologies AG
Dr. Andy Yen, CEO

Ghostery, Inc.
Jeremy Tillman, President

Disconnect, Inc.
Casey Oppenheim, CEO

Vivaldi Technologies LLC
Tatsuki Tomita, Chief Operating Officer

Tresorit AG
Istvan Lam, Co-Founder & CEO

Lavabit LLC
Richard Delgado, COO

Fastmail Pty Ltd
Bron Gondwana, CEO

Fastmail US LLC
Helen Horstmann-Allen, COO

Ecosia GmbH
Christian Kroll, CEO & Founder