California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018: opt-out preference signal.

Assembly Member Lowenthal's privacy legislation would require businesses developing or maintaining web browsers to include settings that enable consumers to signal their opt-out preferences regarding personal information sharing. The measure builds upon existing California privacy law by mandating that browsers incorporate these privacy controls in a way that is easily accessible to users.

The bill establishes parallel requirements for mobile operating systems, requiring similar opt-out functionality six months after the California Privacy Protection Agency adopts implementing regulations. These provisions would apply to operating systems used on smartphones and tablets, with the agency responsible for defining technical specifications for the opt-out signals.

Under the measure, the California Privacy Protection Agency would gain authority to develop and enforce regulations governing these new privacy controls. The bill defines an opt-out preference signal as a mechanism that allows consumers to communicate their choice not to have their personal information sold or shared by businesses they interact with through browsers or mobile platforms. This addition to the Civil Code aligns with the stated aims of the California Privacy Rights Act of 2020, according to the bill's legislative findings.