California’s state legislature approved a bill that mandates Internet browsers and mobile operating systems to offer users the option to opt out of the sale or sharing of their personal data. The bill is now awaiting California Governor Gavin Newsom’s signature to become law.
The California Consumer Privacy Act already granted residents the ability to submit legally binding opt-out requests to companies. However, the new bill takes it a step further by requiring browsers and mobile operating systems to provide a feature for users to send these opt-out signals. Users will have the choice to opt out of sharing their information by simply selecting this signal on their Internet browser and operating system. The browser will then automatically send out these opt-out requests to every website and app the user interacts with, by default.
As of now, popular browsers like Google Chrome, Apple’s Safari, and Microsoft’s Edge, as well as Android and iOS mobile platforms, do not have these built-in tools. This means that users currently have to rely on third-party software to transmit opt-out signals.
The bill’s language specifies that the process of activating the opt-out feature must be “easy for a reasonable person to locate and configure.” This requirement was approved by both the state Senate and Assembly.
The California Privacy Protection Agency praised the advancement of the bill, noting that browsers such as Mozilla Firefox, DuckDuckGo, and Brave – which already support opt-out signals – make up less than 10% of the global desktop browser market. The agency emphasized the significance of AB 3048 in simplifying the opt-out process for Californians online.
“We thank the Legislature for passing AB 3048, a landmark bill that makes it significantly easier for Californians to exercise their opt-out rights online,” said CPPA executive director Ashkan Soltani in a statement. “This is another example of California innovating to protect consumers and promote trust in the digital marketplace.”
Although this legislation is specific to California residents, the required updates in browsers and operating systems will make this opt-out feature accessible to all users worldwide. The bill’s passage underscores California’s commitment to prioritizing consumer privacy rights and fostering trust in online interactions.