London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Jul 05, 2025

Why you're suddenly getting spammed with privacy emails

Why you're suddenly getting spammed with privacy emails

Does this look familiar? "We've updated our privacy notice to provide additional transparency on our information practices as well as to comply with the CCPA."

This holiday season, inboxes have been filled not only with promotional emails but also dozens of privacy notes.
California's new privacy law -- the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) - goes into effect January 1, 2020. That's why Postmates, Condé Nast, Hulu, and many more businesses have emailed customers over the past few weeks with new terms of service.


What is CCPA?

CCPA regulates how companies collect and store data. The law applies to for-profit companies that generate more than $25 million in annual gross revenue, have more than 50,000 people's personal data or generate more than 50% of their annual revenue from selling customers' personal data.

California residents can now demand those companies disclose what data they have collected on them, and the law requires companies delete that data when users ask them to.

Companies must disclose how their customers can contact them to request their data be forgotten. Square, for example, lists an email specifically for privacy issues.


Why now?

Big scandals, including Facebook's Cambridge Analytica crisis and Equifax's data breach, have angered legislators. Many lawmakers are looking to rein in some companies' seemingly unfettered access to people's data, giving users more power over their personal information.

Facebook, Google, Amazon and other tech platforms are affected by the law. That's a big deal, because they generate the vast majority of their revenue from targeted advertising. The law does not prevent them from collecting data, but it requires them to be more explicit about what data they're collecting.


Does it only affect California residents?

Non-California residents cannot request their data be deleted. But they will be able to read through the new terms of service and see what data companies are collecting.

Other states are also mulling similar regulations on data privacy. Lawmakers have considered a federal privacy law. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has called for a "global framework" for data privacy regulations.


Sounds like GDPR?


Yes and no. General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR, is a EU law that was implemented May 2018.

Both GDPR and CCPA are privacy laws that address collecting and storing data, but they handle it differently. GDPR requires that people must consent to a company collecting their data. CCPA doesn't require an opt-in, but it mandates that people have an ability to opt-out from collection.

GDPR also applies to all companies - not just for-profits of a certain size - and it regulates all types of personal data. CCPA applies to personal data that is not available in government records.


How will CCPA affect tech companies

The impact of this law is hard to measure, because it requires consumers to take action.

Initial compliance may cost companies up to $55 billion, collectively, according to an economic impact assessment prepared by an independent research firm for California's Department of Justice.

If companies purposefully ignore CCPA, California will fine them$7,500 fine per violation. Other rule-breaking carries a maximum fine of $2,500 per violation. California's Justice Department will begin enforcing the law on July 1. There's a six months grace period from the law's implementation to enforcement.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Political Dispute Escalates Between Trump and Musk
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
US Senate Votes to Remove AI Regulation Moratorium from Domestic Policy Bill
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
Jury Deliberations in Diddy Trial Yield Partial Verdict in Serious Criminal Charges
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
King Charles Plans Significant Role for Prince Harry in Coronation
Two Chinese Nationals Arrested for Espionage Activities Against U.S. Navy
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
×