Understanding CCPA Sale of Personal Information: What You Need to Know
The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) is a landmark consumer privacy law that took effect on January 1, 2020. The CCPA gives Californians the right to know what personal information businesses collect about them, and whether that information is sold or disclosed to third parties. In this article, we’ll explain what the CCPA sale of personal information means and how it affects you.
What is the CCPA Sale of Personal Information?
The CCPA defines the sale of personal information as “selling, renting, releasing, disclosing, disseminating, making available, transferring, or otherwise communicating orally, in writing, or by electronic or other means, a consumer’s personal information by the business to another business or a third party for monetary or other valuable consideration.” This means that if a business discloses your personal information to another company in exchange for money, products or services, it is considered a sale under the CCPA.
There are some exceptions to this definition. For example, if you have requested that a business share your personal information with a third party, or if the disclosure is necessary for a business to perform a service for you (such as shipping a product), it is not a sale. Additionally, if a business shares your personal information with a service provider that processes the information on the business’s behalf, it is not considered a sale.
How Does the CCPA Sale of Personal Information Affect You?
Under the CCPA, you have the right to request that a business disclose what personal information it has collected about you and whether that information has been sold or disclosed to third parties. You also have the right to request that a business delete your personal information.
If a business has sold or disclosed your personal information to third parties, it must provide you with a list of the categories of personal information that were sold or disclosed, along with the names and contact information of the third parties that received the information. You can opt-out of the sale of your personal information by requesting that a business stop selling your information.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
The penalties for non-compliance with the CCPA can be steep. California’s attorney general can seek civil penalties of up to $2,500 per violation of the CCPA, or up to $7,500 per intentional violation. Additionally, individuals have the right to sue businesses that violate their CCPA rights, with damages ranging from $100 to $750 per incident, or actual damages, whichever is greater.
Conclusion
The CCPA sale of personal information is an important aspect of the law that consumers should be aware of. Businesses that sell consumers’ personal information must disclose that fact and provide consumers with the right to opt-out of the sale. If you live in California, make sure you understand your rights under the CCPA and take advantage of them to protect your personal information.
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