AB 3048 would be a disaster for California small businesses that use digital technology and online platforms to reach customers and grow their companies. The bill requires that Internet browsers display prominent data sharing opt-outs, but the mandate goes way too far. Consumers won't know what they are opting out of and small businesses that connect with customers online will lose out on vital customer relationships.
Join the Connected Commerce Council and small business leaders and add your name to protect your business. Fill out the form below to sign a letter to Governor Newsom telling him to veto AB 3048.
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Dear Governor Newsom:
The undersigned small businesses urge you to veto AB 3048.
We work hard every day to attract and build respectful relationships with our customers. Digital technology and online platforms help us reach prospective customers, introduce them to our products and services, transact business accurately and efficiently, remember their past purchases, likes, and dislikes, and forget them if they choose. By requiring Internet browsers to prominently display data-sharing opt-outs to our customers outside of their interaction with our website, AB 3048 will destroy years of investment and customer relationships.
The California Consumer Privacy Act is considered a gold standard that empowers consumers with choice and control over their data. But AB 3048 would mandate a grossly overbroad opt-out that will be poorly understood by consumers and counterintuitively override consumers’ website-level choices to have informed and beneficial relationships with our businesses. Consumers are not asking for this, and it will undermine so much of our hard work and good customer service.
To be clear, we are not concerned about consumers who opt out of data selling or sharing on our websites. However, we are deeply concerned that consumers who use browser settings mischaracterized as “do not sell my data” instructions could make it impossible for us to recognize their prior visits and purchases, provide them with personalized digital experiences, or offer customized services that reflect our experiences together - even if they have previously approved these activities.
The internet and digital platforms empower consumers and small businesses and have been game-changers for women and minority entrepreneurs. Please don’t undermine many years of progress and opportunity. Please veto AB 3048.
