Governor Newsom signed the California Opt Me Out Act (AB 566), requiring browsers to offer built-in opt-out preference signals (OOPS) by January 2027. This makes California the first state to mandate that browsers provide easy-to-use tools for consumers to automatically communicate their privacy preferences to websites, closing a major gap in CCPA enforcement.
Requires browsers operating in California to provide opt-out preference signals (OOPS) to allow users to automatically tell websites not to sell or share their personal information. Effective January 2027.
In-house legal teams should review browser vendor agreements and technology procurement contracts to ensure that any browser-based products or services offered to California users include the mandated opt-out preference signals. Additionally, data processing agreements with websites and third parties must be updated to honor these signals when received, potentially requiring amendments to consent clauses, data sale provisions, and compliance obligations under the CCPA.
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State of California
Industry
OtherOfficial Press Release
https://privacy.ca.gov/2025/10/governor-signs-groundbreaking-privacy-bill-making-it-easier-for-californians-to-protect-their-personal-data/
billNavClient.xhtml?bill id=202520260AB566
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB566
California Attorney General Enforcement Page
https://oag.ca.gov/privacy/privacy-enforcement-actions
"October 8, 2025"
"Governor Newsom signed the California Opt Me Out Act (AB 566, Lowenthal)"
"The California Opt Me Out Act (AB 566, Lowenthal)"
"The California Consumer Privacy Act"
"requiring browsers to offer a simple, built-in way to tell websites not to sell or share their personal information"
"requires browsers operating in California to offer easy-to-use opt-out preference signals (OOPS)"
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.
The California Privacy Protection Agency Board voted to support two bills (AB 1542 and SB 1106) and took a 'support if amended' position on a third bill (AB 883). These bills aim to strengthen privacy protections by expanding sensitive data protections, improving deletion rights under the Delete Act, and providing expedited deletion for elected officials and judges.
The California Privacy Protection Agency sent a letter to Congress opposing the SECURE Data Act, a federal bill that would preempt state privacy laws like the CCPA and Delete Act. The letter argues the bill would eliminate rights for 40 million Californians, including the DROP platform and opt-out preference signal requirements, and urges Congress to set a floor rather than a ceiling on privacy protections.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, joined by attorneys general from seven other states, filed a lawsuit to block the $6.2 billion merger between Nexstar Media Group and Tegna Inc. The lawsuit alleges the merger violates Section 7 of the Clayton Act by reducing competition in local TV markets, leading to higher prices, less local news, and job losses.