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There are LOT of, um, takes out there regarding CA #Prop24. So, here's my POV on this very confusing, very wordy, and very important ballot initiative.
TL;DR I'm voting YES even though it's not perfect and even though ideally we'd do something this gargantuan via legislation.
TL;DR I'm voting YES even though it's not perfect and even though ideally we'd do something this gargantuan via legislation.
To understand the madness around Prop 24, you need a bit of background on the CA Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), which went into effect on July 1st of this year.
In 2015, a rich real estate developer named Alastair MacTaggart learned about – and was horrified by -- the pervasiveness of the surveillance economy and decided to do something about it.
Fast forward to 2018 and MacTaggart has teamed up with other privacy activists to draft a CBI to vastly limit the unfettered collection of Californians’ personal information; it receives twice the number of signatures necessary to put the initiative on the Nov 2018 ballot.
Big Tech freaks out and starts lobbying the CA legislature to do something about it. Led by state senator Bob Hertzberg, legislators propose a compromise: they will commit to passing CCPA as a bill if MacTaggart will withdraw the CBI.
Why should the method matter?
Because in California, ballot initiatives can ONLY be changed by another ballot initiative — or, in this case, a supermajority (70%) of the legislature.
Because in California, ballot initiatives can ONLY be changed by another ballot initiative — or, in this case, a supermajority (70%) of the legislature.
The CCPA group agrees, believing that legislative process is the right way to pass such a gargantuan law.
Over the course of negotiations, CCPA gets watered down, but passes in session at the 11th hour.
Over the course of negotiations, CCPA gets watered down, but passes in session at the 11th hour.
The CBI is withdrawn right before the deadline, but not before causing a massive rift between its drafters, one of whom is now leading the charge on the attacks on 24
Now, here we are in 2020, and MacTaggart has poured millions of his own money into Prop 24 in an attempt to strengthen and clarify CCPA and close the massive loopholes that have let Big Tech mostly keep doing business as usual.
Prop 24 is technical and jargony and all in legalese, which makes it really hard to follow.
But I’ve read every word of the damn thing, I’ve compared it with CCPA, and I firmly believe it will absolutely improve upon the rights we have today.
But I’ve read every word of the damn thing, I’ve compared it with CCPA, and I firmly believe it will absolutely improve upon the rights we have today.
It will: create a privacy enforcement agency, let us opt-out via a “set it and forget it” browser signal, give us more control over how our sensitive data is used, and more.
It SPECIFALLY designates behavioral advertising as a data sale, thus covered by the opt-out requirements
It SPECIFALLY designates behavioral advertising as a data sale, thus covered by the opt-out requirements
As for the argument that it’s too weak on Big Tech? Maybe so, but it’s stronger than anything we have, and I can’t let perfect be the enemy of very good here.
The "pay for privacy" argument? Well, it fails to note that CCPA already HAS such a clause!
The "pay for privacy" argument? Well, it fails to note that CCPA already HAS such a clause!
Do I think a ballot initiative is the best way to do this? No. But legislation didn't work.
This time, MacTaggart included a provision ensuring that the legislature can make mods to the law via simple majority AS LONG as it's not weakening protections.
Vote YES on 24.
/end
This time, MacTaggart included a provision ensuring that the legislature can make mods to the law via simple majority AS LONG as it's not weakening protections.
Vote YES on 24.
/end
