Understanding the Basics of CPRA: Definition and Protection of Personal Information
Introduction
The California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) is a relatively new law that went into effect on January 1, 2023. This act builds on top of the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) of 2018, which sought to give California residents more control over their personal information. The new CPRA aims to strengthen data privacy rights by adding new provisions and expanding existing ones. In this article, we will explain the basics of CPRA, its definition and the protection of personal information.
What is CPRA?
The California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) is a law that grants California residents specific privacy rights, including the right to access, correct, and delete their personal information. It also requires companies to provide more transparency about their data collection, use, and sharing practices. CPRA created an independent agency, the California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA), to enforce the new provisions. The CPPA is responsible for implementing, interpreting, and enforcing the CPRA.
Protection of Personal Information Under CPRA
With CPRA in place, businesses must tell consumers what personal information they collect, the purpose of collecting such information, and how they intend to use the data. They must also get explicit consent from the consumers before collecting and using their data. CPRA guidelines stipulate that businesses should also clearly provide consumers with an opt-out option to prevent their information from being sold to third parties. If businesses fail to comply with these rules, they could face significant financial penalties.
Additionally, CPRA provides consumers the right to know the identity of all businesses that share their personal information, and consumers can request that all the collected data be deleted, with some exceptions. Companies that obtain personal information about people under the age of 16 should obtain the explicit approval of the consumer and that of their guardian.
Subheadings
New Provisions by CPRA
CPRA creates new rules for businesses and organizations that collect and process personal information from California residents. Some of these new provisions are:
– Right to correct inaccurate personal information
– Right to prevent using sensitive personal information for targeted advertising.
– Right to know the length of time personal data will be retained and the criteria businesses will use to do so.
– Obligation to implement reasonable data security measures.
Examples of Personal Information
Personal information under CPRA refers to any information that identifies or can be linked to an individual. Examples of personal information include:
– Name and last name
– Date of birth
– Social security number
– Email address
– Telephone numbers
– Home address
– Credit card details
– Biometric data
Conclusion
CPRA introduced several changes to the CCPA by expanding privacy rights for Californians, including sensitive personal data protection and the right to correct inaccuracies in personal information. These changes require companies to enhance their privacy practices to avoid facing penalties and lawsuits. Organizations must understand the rules under CPRA and compliance, given the severe implications of non-compliance.
