The California Privacy Protection Agency (CalPrivacy) announced the creation of a Data Broker Enforcement Strike Force to investigate privacy violations by data brokers under the CCPA and Delete Act. The strike force will focus on compliance with registration requirements and other obligations, building on previous enforcement actions to increase accountability.
In-house legal teams should review all agreements involving data brokers, including vendor contracts, data processing agreements, and customer contracts where personal data is shared or sold. Focus on clauses addressing registration requirements under the Delete Act, compliance with CCPA obligations (including consumer rights to deletion and opt-out), payment of annual fees to the California Data Broker Registry, and implementation of the Delete Request and Opt-Out Platform (DROP). Contracts may need amendments to mandate proof of registration, specify DROP compliance, allocate fee responsibilities, include audit rights for verification, and ensure robust data security and breach notification provisions aligned with CCPA standards.
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Data BrokerThe Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sent warning letters to 13 data brokers reminding them of their obligations under the Protecting Americans’ Data from Foreign Adversaries Act (PADFAA). PADFAA prohibits data brokers from selling or providing sensitive personal data about Americans to foreign adversaries such as China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. The letters warn that violations could result in civil penalties of up to $53,088 per violation and urge companies to review their business practices for compliance.
CalPrivacy issued Enforcement Advisory No. 2025-01 to remind data brokers of their annual registration obligations under California's Delete Act, including disclosing all trade names and websites and registering independently rather than through a parent company. The advisory warns that failures to comply may result in administrative fines of $200 per day, plus fees and recovery costs. It also highlights the upcoming Delete Request and Opt-Out Platform (DROP) launching January 1, 2026.
The California Privacy Protection Agency (CalPrivacy) announced the creation of a Data Broker Enforcement Strike Force to investigate privacy violations by data brokers. The strike force will focus on compliance with the Delete Act's registration requirement and the CCPA, building on previous enforcement actions. This initiative aims to hold data brokers accountable and protect Californians' personal information.
A coalition of 12 state attorneys general, led by Colorado AG Phil Weiser, obtained a temporary restraining order from a federal court in California to halt the proposed $110 billion merger of Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. by Paramount Skydance Corporation. The lawsuit alleges the merger violates Section 7 of the Clayton Act by substantially lessening competition in film distribution, anticipated blockbuster film distribution, and licensing cable TV channels.
The California Privacy Protection Agency (CalPrivacy) joined a coalition of 18 Attorneys General and state agencies in opposing the proposed SECURE Data Act, a federal privacy bill that would preempt stronger state privacy laws like the CCPA. The coalition argues the bill would weaken consumer privacy protections, limit enforcement remedies, and undermine California's Delete Request and Opt-out Platform (DROP).
$12.8M
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, along with multiple district attorneys and the California Privacy Protection Agency, announced a $12.75 million settlement with General Motors for illegally selling hundreds of thousands of Californians' location and driving data to data brokers Verisk and LexisNexis without notice or consent. The settlement includes the largest CCPA penalty to date, a five-year ban on selling driving data to consumer reporting agencies, and requirements to delete retained data and implement a robust privacy program.