Your data privacy is at risk every time you log into websites. A lot of people nowadays are vulnerable to this kind of threat. If you’re a consumer receiving unsolicited emails, there’s a likelihood a third party may be holding your information. This circumstance of possible data breaching, however common to internet users, is deemed illegal. Data privacy and risk are a few of the issues the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) is fighting.
But what are the things online marketers need to know about it?
CCPA Grants New Rights to Consumers
Internet users in California can expect the following rights to protect them from unfair use of their data:
- Consumers have the right to get a copy of the personal information collected from them by another party in 12 months.
- Internet-users can’t be discriminated against if they choose to abide by their rights as a consumer.
- Consumers have the right to information on the company’s data collection practices, how the establishment or organization uses data, where the data came from, and the third parties receiving your information.
- Consumers can choose to have their information deleted.
- Consumers must get full disclosure the company sells their data and may refuse its data to third parties.
If you’re new to the news of CCPA laws, the best way to start is to learn from a Laughing Samurai guide and browse other sites that tackle similar topics. You can read in-depth information on CCPA regulations. Get information on the pros and cons of CCPA, how to comply, and more.
Complaisance with GDPR isn’t the Same with CCPA
The European has the General Data Protection Regulation established in 2018 and globally has the toughest data security regulation. It was followed by the United States law, CCPA, and may show similarities as it pertains to data security. The differences between the two regulations are the following:
- Consumers have the right to opt-out
- Household information is also included
- CCPA has stricter policies
- It focuses more on digital advertising companies and for-profit enterprises
- GDPR is for the government and non-profit organizations
CCPA Impacts Companies with Massive Data Collection
Establishments may be wondering how big your business needs to be or what type of business is affected by CCPA. The laws now apply to companies that fall under the following. Before knowing what needs to be compliant, you must first assess if your company applies here:
- If your company has a gross revenue of USD$25,000,000.
- Business that buys, sells, or is sharing information of 50,000 customers.
- Establishments that acquire at least half of their income from sharing personal information.
If your business is storing large amounts of personal data from customers or gaining income from dealing with data to other companies, CCPA applies to you. There are businesses that use customer data nowadays, so it’s important to assess if CCPA affects yours.
Businesses Must Implement Rules in Compliance with CCPA
Now that the CCPA is in full effect, businesses where CCPA applies to have the responsibility to implement policies in their company. Here are the following:
- These businesses’ websites must include a ‘Do Not Sell My Personal Information’ link at the Home Page where users can easily see and click on if they choose to opt-out.
- Have processes to gain parental consent for minors under 13 years of age and voluntary agreement for children between 13 and 16.
- Must consist of the new privacy policy and complete description of California’s CCPA rights.
- An implementation of limiting the opt-in request in 12 months after opting out.
- A toll-free number that the consumers can directly use to call the company for data access requests.
If you’re the type of business that hired an offshore development team, you know the benefits they can do for your business. You have more time to focus on essential tasks, and you get to work with talented individuals for an affordable cost. It’s also the reason why adhering to the CCPA rules is even more crucial. To ensure consumers using your website are kept safe, your team must also be aware of the repercussions of not abiding by the law.
Your Business will Suffer Penalties for Non-Compliance
Some businesses tend to ignore the new regulations and continue to operate the way they’ve always been. To make sure businesses will adhere to the new CCPA laws, they’ll have to pay penalties for the following:
- Unintentional violation (one record) – USD$2,500
- Intentional violation (one record) – USD$7,500
That means you’ll be paying thousands of dollars already for selling a single piece of information without consent. Businesses still dealing with thousands of personal information records could be fined for a massive amount of money. While it may take time, you don’t want to wait until you get caught and suffer the consequences. Strict compliance with the CCPA laws is still the best way to run your business.
In Conclusion
The CCPA was created to protect further consumers’ identity who tend to give away personal information in exchange for doing business. While some companies have common practices to keep data, they also have the responsibility to keep them safe. Every day, Internet users are at risk of getting their information stolen from third-party businesses that may not have the same security level as your business does. Both the consumer and the business owner must meet halfway to protect identities from shady characters online.
