Google, Industry Try To Water Down First US Data-Privacy Law (bloomberg.com) 28
Google and its industry allies are making a late bid to water down the first major data-privacy law in the U.S., seeking to carve out exemptions for digital advertising, according to documents obtained by Bloomberg and people familiar with the negotiations. Bloomberg reports: A lobbyist for Google recently distributed new language to members of California's state legislature that would amend the California Consumer Privacy Act. As currently drafted, the law limits how Google and other companies collect and make money from user data online, threatening a business model that generates billions of dollars in ad revenue. It's due to kick in next year and there are only a few more days to amend the law. The lobbying push seeks legislative approval to continue collecting user data for targeted advertising, and in some cases, the right to do so even if users opt out, according to the documents and the people familiar with the negotiations.
It's unclear if the language circulating in the state capitol's corridors was drafted by Google, and other lobbyists are likely asking for similar changes. Industry groups, such as the California Chamber of Commerce and the Internet Association, often help write legislation and have been the face of industry during two years of debate over the CCPA. It's also common for interested parties to suggest late changes to bills. The Google representative, who distributed the revised language in recent weeks, has yet to find a lawmaker to sponsor the amendments, according to people familiar with negotiations. The proposal must be in a bill by Sept. 10 to be eligible for lawmakers to vote on it before they adjourn for the year on Sept. 13. One of the proposals would let Google and others use data collected from websites for their own analysis, and then share it with other companies that may find it useful. Currently, the CCPA prohibits the sale or distribution of user data if the user has opted out, with limited exceptions.
Another proposal would loosen the definition of "business purpose" when it comes to selling or distributing user data. The law currently defines this narrowly and has a list of specific activities, such auditing and security, that will be allowed. Google's lobbyist shared new language that significantly broadens the rule by replacing the phrase "Business purposes are" with "Business purposes include," before the list of approved activities.
It's unclear if the language circulating in the state capitol's corridors was drafted by Google, and other lobbyists are likely asking for similar changes. Industry groups, such as the California Chamber of Commerce and the Internet Association, often help write legislation and have been the face of industry during two years of debate over the CCPA. It's also common for interested parties to suggest late changes to bills. The Google representative, who distributed the revised language in recent weeks, has yet to find a lawmaker to sponsor the amendments, according to people familiar with negotiations. The proposal must be in a bill by Sept. 10 to be eligible for lawmakers to vote on it before they adjourn for the year on Sept. 13. One of the proposals would let Google and others use data collected from websites for their own analysis, and then share it with other companies that may find it useful. Currently, the CCPA prohibits the sale or distribution of user data if the user has opted out, with limited exceptions.
Another proposal would loosen the definition of "business purpose" when it comes to selling or distributing user data. The law currently defines this narrowly and has a list of specific activities, such auditing and security, that will be allowed. Google's lobbyist shared new language that significantly broadens the rule by replacing the phrase "Business purposes are" with "Business purposes include," before the list of approved activities.
"with limited exceptions" (Score:1)
All water, no law
Data, oil (Score:3)
Yeah, Google Evil (Score:4, Insightful)
Look how google protects its privacy, keeping its secrets whilst selling yours and ohh look, children as well, ain't it cute, Google selling the privacy of children so they can be specifically targeted for manipulation, ahh, google caring for the future of children, ohh yes.
Google Is Evil (Score:3, Insightful)
Re: (Score:1)
They won't need to fight very hard with Trump at the helm.
Re: (Score:2)
You think politics is their main aim? I wouldn't want to underestimate the political aspect and the state ties but Google is in the first place a business and harvesting your data is crucial in their business model.
Re: Google Is Evil (Score:2)
harvesting your data is crucial in their business model.
This goes to show, once again that Big Tech has too many dollars and not enough sense (cents). I have been generating my data, my hard earned data since birth. No one credits me for that data, nor do they compensate me for it either. We humans are not at the top of the food chain. But then again, neither is big tech, oil, pharma, banking, agriculture, et cet. They may think they are but they are in for a big surprise. No body is king of the hill forever.
Stop Using Them (Score:1)
watch their actions (Score:5, Insightful)
This doesn't really bother me. Capitalism. We deliberately set up western society to be like this. You're in a company? You focus on PROFIT and RETURN ON CAPITAL. That's what you do. That's you're job. That's why you exist. Period. End of discussion. Any collective action for the greater good is the purview of government, civic organizations and non-profits. Want to make the world better as a full-time job? A company is the wrong place for you. Try one of those other outfits.
And I'm cool with this. Capitalism has it's problems, but overall it works exceedingly well. There's a reason why lots of people from other parts of the world want to migrate to the west, and very few go the other direction. Democracy has a lot to do with it, but Capitalism provides the opportunity. No other system comes close.
Expecting a company to voluntarily take a financial hit to "save the world" is idiocy. Want to address any sort of societal problem? DO NOT expect a company to provide the solution, unless there's somehow a profit to be made. Google might talk nicely, but they will try their very hardest to quietly assassinate any proposed restrictions on advertising or data selling.
Re: (Score:2)
False (Score:1)
Digital Doubles for Free (Score:2)
One way to look at the whole issue of the vampires sucking out all your private and biometrical and behavioural data is that they are getting a digital representation of you and they are getting it virtually for free. It's not the result of a voluntary transaction.
Your insurer will pay them so the insure knows before you that you're developing a health problem. That your driving is sometimes inaccurate. That your memory is going down.
The government and political groups will know exactly what pushes your but
yeah, Surrendee Monkey (Score:1)
Google Data Driven (Score:1)
Re: Google Data Driven (Score:1)
Foxes in charge of hen houses (Score:2)
Google, Facebook, Microsoft, etc. These foxes should not be writing data-privacy legislation nor policy for hen houses.
They have proven repeatedly they cannot be trusted to be fair, honest or ethical in their collection & distribution of personally identifiable information. They are motivated solely by profits w/o benevolence. Legislators should not reward their blind, soulless greed.
Re: (Score:2)
Only acceptable change (Score:2)
"Currently, the CCPA prohibits the sale or distribution of user data if the user has opted out, with limited exceptions. "
Nope, to be able to use the data, the user has to specifically "Opt IN", with strong ID verification on the opt in request.
Their business model can change (Score:2)
There are ways to get data from users with consent. Ask Nielsen. Not good enough?
Too bad, you don't get to bend people to your desires just because it's convenient. There has to be some middle ground. Forcing this on people is not the way, Google.
Dismantle Google (Score:2)
Re: (Score:1)
Plus (Score:1)
In other news ... (Score:2)
Water is wet!
A giant data-vacuuming company such as Google trying to serve its own interests by hobbling a data privacy law?
Say it ain't so!
test for corruption (Score:2)
seeking to carve out exemptions for digital advertising
If anything, then this is the test how corrupted the system really is. Digital advertising, an entirely predatory branch of the economy that creates zero value. If we change laws for that, we're lost.
Replacement For Goo Services (Score:1)