CA Enacts Further Privacy Protections
California has firmly established itself as a trailblazing state when it comes to privacy protections. Just this week, Governor Gray Davis signed into law two bills addressing consumer privacy concerns. The first law, A.B. 213, takes effect July 1 and regulates the use of data recorders known as "black boxes" that come equipped in some cars. The law requires carmakers to disclose the existence of such devices and forbids access to the data without either a court order or the owner's permission, unless it is for a safety study in which the information cannot be traced back to the car.
The second law, signed today by Davis, represents the most far-reaching of any anti-spam legislation in the U.S. The law, which is set to take effect on Jan. 1, outlaws sending most commercial e-mail to or from the state that the recipient did not explicitly request. It stipulates fines of $1,000 for each unsolicited message sent up to $1 million for each campaign.
Privacy Law in California Shields Drivers
The New York Times, September 23, 2003
California Moves to Ban Unsolicited E-Mail
The New York Times, September 23, 2003
