Sen. Dodd: Data Privacy Week Begins Jan. 22
SACRAMENTO – Recognizing the increasing role of technology in consumers’ lives, the large volume of personal information collected by businesses and the damage caused by unwanted disclosure and data breaches, Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, announced today he’s designating the fourth week in January in California as Data Privacy Week.
“There is an enormous amount of our personal data in the hands of giant corporations, so it is more important than ever to know your exposure and your rights to safeguard your information,” said Sen. Dodd. “We must stay informed about how to protect their privacy. Fortunately, California has been a leader in adopting consumer protections without stifling innovation.”
Data Privacy Week recognizes the growing threat of data breaches and the misuse of data. Between 2012 and 2016, the California Attorney General received 657 reports of data breaches affecting more than 49 million records of Californians. Nationwide, more than 1 billion records have been breached since 2005.
In response, Sen. Dodd co-authored landmark legislation establishing the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018, which requires businesses to inform consumers about how their personal information is collected and used, and gives consumers the option to say no to the sale of their data. Also, voters in 2020 overwhelmingly approved Proposition 24, the California Privacy Rights Act, which amended and expanded the previous legislation, providing residents with the strongest privacy protections in the United States. The measure created the California Privacy Protection Agency, the nation’s first regulator with full administrative powers focused on privacy and data protection.
Senate Concurrent Resolution 94 designates Jan. 22, 2024 through Jan. 28, 2024 Data Privacy Week. Also, it designates Jan. 28 as Data Privacy Day, corresponding to the international event recognized by the United States, Canada, Nigeria, Israel and 47 European countries raising awareness and promoting best practices around data privacy.
“Data Privacy Week is an important reminder that Californians have strong consumer privacy protections,” said Jennifer Urban, chair of the California Privacy Protection Agency board. “We are grateful for Sen. Dodd’s commitment to raising awareness about these essential rights and how Californians can protect their personal information.”
The California Privacy Protection Agency is here to help Californians better understand how they can keep their personal information safe,” Urban said. “I’m excited to announce that we’ve launched privacy.ca.gov to help in this important effort. I encourage all Californians to visit the website to learn more about their rights, and if they believe a business has violated these rights, to submit a complaint to the agency through the website.”
Link: https://privacy.ca.gov/
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Senator Bill Dodd represents the 3rd Senate District, which includes all or portions of Napa, Yolo, Sonoma, Solano, Sacramento and Contra Costa counties. More information on Senator Bill Dodd can be found at www.senate.ca.gov/dodd.