California Secretary of State Debra Bowen has allowed signature collection to commence for a ballot initiative, named the Personal Privacy Protection Act, that could drastically alter the California privacy regime. The initiative, led by former state Senator Steve Peace and retired attorney Michael Thorsnes, seeks to amend the California Constitution to define personally identifiable information […]
Online Privacy
California District Court Allows ECPA Claims to Proceed
The United States District Court for the Northern District of California has denied Google’s motion to dismiss the ECPA claims asserted against it in In re Google Inc. Gmail Litigation, No. 13-MD-02430 2013 WL 5423918 (N.D. Cal. Sept. 26, 2013). This decision provides a road map to plaintiffs’ lawyers and has already resulted in the […]
Update: California Governor Brown Signs into Law A.B. 370, “Do Not Track Disclosure Law”
On September 27, 2013, California Governor Brown signed into law A.B. 370, amending the California Online Protection Act (CalOPPA) to require two new privacy policy disclosures for websites and online services regarding behavioral tracking. California Assembly member Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance), who introduced A.B. 370, released a statement in which he said the amended law “will protect […]
Update: California Governor Brown Signs into Law S.B. 46, New Notification Requirements for Data Security Breaches
On September 27, 2013, California Governor Brown signed into law S.B. 46, amending California’s data security breach notification law California Civil Code Section 1798.82. The new law builds upon existing requirements for prompt consumer notification whenever individuals have had their passwords, usernames or security question and answers compromised. It expands the definition of personal information […]
Privacy Co-Chair Paul Martino Quoted on Nationwide Impact of New California Law Establishing Online Privacy Rights for Children Under 18 Years of Age
On September 26, 2013, Paul Martino, co-chair of Alston and Bird’s Privacy and Security practice, was quoted in the Law360 article, “California’s Delete-Button Law Invigorates Teen Privacy Push.” In the article, Martino discussed the likely nationwide impact of a newly enacted California law, entitled “Privacy Rights for California Minors in the Digital Age,” which passed the […]