Business News
SACRAMENTO – California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and Assemblymember Marc Levine (D-San Rafael) have unveiled AB 1130, legislation to strengthen California’s data breach notification law to protect consumers.
The bill closes a loophole in the state’s existing data breach notification law by requiring businesses to notify consumers of compromised passport numbers and biometric information.
“Knowledge is power, and all Californians deserve the power to take action if their passport numbers or biometric data have been accessed without authorization,” said Attorney General Becerra. “We are grateful to Assemblymember Levine for introducing this bill to improve our state’s data breach notification law and better protect the personal data of California consumers. AB 1130 closes a gap in California law and ensures that our state remains the nation’s leader in data privacy and protection.”
“There is a real danger when our personal information is not protected by those we trust,” said Assemblymember Levine. “Businesses must do more to protect personal data, and I am proud to stand with Attorney General Becerra in demanding greater disclosure by a company when a data breach has occurred. AB 1130 will increase our efforts to protect consumers from fraud and affirms our commitment to demand the strongest consumer protections in the nation.”
In 2003, California became the first state to pass a data breach notification law requiring companies to disclose breaches of personal information to California consumers whose personal information was, or was reasonably believed to have been, acquired by an unauthorized person.
This personal information includes identifiers such as a person’s social security number, driver’s license number, credit card number, and medical and health insurance information.
This bill would update that law to include passport numbers as personal information protected under the statute.
Passport numbers are unique, government-issued, static identifiers of a person, which makes them valuable to criminals seeking to create or build fake profiles and commit sophisticated identity theft and fraud.
AB 1130 would also update the statute to include protection for a person’s unique biometric information, such as a fingerprint, or image of a retina or iris.
The legislation was prompted by the massive data breach of the guest database at Starwood Hotels – recently acquired by Marriott – in 2018.
Marriott revealed that the massive breach exposed more than 327 million records containing guests’ names, addresses, and more than 25 million passport numbers, among other things.
Though the company did notify consumers of the breach, current law does not require companies to report breaches if only consumers’ passport numbers have been improperly accessed.
The bill closes a loophole in the state’s existing data breach notification law by requiring businesses to notify consumers of compromised passport numbers and biometric information.
“Knowledge is power, and all Californians deserve the power to take action if their passport numbers or biometric data have been accessed without authorization,” said Attorney General Becerra. “We are grateful to Assemblymember Levine for introducing this bill to improve our state’s data breach notification law and better protect the personal data of California consumers. AB 1130 closes a gap in California law and ensures that our state remains the nation’s leader in data privacy and protection.”
“There is a real danger when our personal information is not protected by those we trust,” said Assemblymember Levine. “Businesses must do more to protect personal data, and I am proud to stand with Attorney General Becerra in demanding greater disclosure by a company when a data breach has occurred. AB 1130 will increase our efforts to protect consumers from fraud and affirms our commitment to demand the strongest consumer protections in the nation.”
In 2003, California became the first state to pass a data breach notification law requiring companies to disclose breaches of personal information to California consumers whose personal information was, or was reasonably believed to have been, acquired by an unauthorized person.
This personal information includes identifiers such as a person’s social security number, driver’s license number, credit card number, and medical and health insurance information.
This bill would update that law to include passport numbers as personal information protected under the statute.
Passport numbers are unique, government-issued, static identifiers of a person, which makes them valuable to criminals seeking to create or build fake profiles and commit sophisticated identity theft and fraud.
AB 1130 would also update the statute to include protection for a person’s unique biometric information, such as a fingerprint, or image of a retina or iris.
The legislation was prompted by the massive data breach of the guest database at Starwood Hotels – recently acquired by Marriott – in 2018.
Marriott revealed that the massive breach exposed more than 327 million records containing guests’ names, addresses, and more than 25 million passport numbers, among other things.
Though the company did notify consumers of the breach, current law does not require companies to report breaches if only consumers’ passport numbers have been improperly accessed.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The West Business Development Center will hold a workshop titled “Emergency Prep for Your Business” on Monday, March 4.
The workshop will take place from noon to 2 p.m. at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
With the recent devastation in Northern California due to the wildfires it is clear to all that havoc from natural disasters can alter an individual’s life in seconds.
All small business owners impacted by natural disasters, either directly or indirectly, are finding they have many new unanswered questions on a personal and professional level of operating a business.
This must-take free workshop will help guide the entrepreneur to be better prepared when and if the next disaster strikes.
What you can expect to learn:
• Ways to protect your assets.
• What does insurance really cover?
• How to protect licenses, records and paperwork.
• How to put your documents in the Cloud.
• Leading your employees.
• How to get help for your business.
This two-hour workshop includes take-home guidebook with worksheets and resources.
Sign up for the workshop before seating fills up.
Instructor Rachel Clark has worked as an EMyth Business Coach for 14 years, helping clients transform their businesses and lives using the tools, methodologies, and principles of the EMyth coaching program.
Using her formal education in Marketing and Economics (coupled with years of experience in Executive Recruiting), Clark helps clients ready to work on their leadership and business skills.
For more information or to sign up visit https://www.westcenter.org/workshops/2019/3/4/emergency-prep-for-your-business-lake-county.
The workshop will take place from noon to 2 p.m. at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
With the recent devastation in Northern California due to the wildfires it is clear to all that havoc from natural disasters can alter an individual’s life in seconds.
All small business owners impacted by natural disasters, either directly or indirectly, are finding they have many new unanswered questions on a personal and professional level of operating a business.
This must-take free workshop will help guide the entrepreneur to be better prepared when and if the next disaster strikes.
What you can expect to learn:
• Ways to protect your assets.
• What does insurance really cover?
• How to protect licenses, records and paperwork.
• How to put your documents in the Cloud.
• Leading your employees.
• How to get help for your business.
This two-hour workshop includes take-home guidebook with worksheets and resources.
Sign up for the workshop before seating fills up.
Instructor Rachel Clark has worked as an EMyth Business Coach for 14 years, helping clients transform their businesses and lives using the tools, methodologies, and principles of the EMyth coaching program.
Using her formal education in Marketing and Economics (coupled with years of experience in Executive Recruiting), Clark helps clients ready to work on their leadership and business skills.
For more information or to sign up visit https://www.westcenter.org/workshops/2019/3/4/emergency-prep-for-your-business-lake-county.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
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