Now this is really something.
Our friend, and yours, Lydia F de la Torre–yes, that Lydia– was just selected to the inaugural board for the California Privacy Protection Agency. She joins a talented team of experts who will help guide California through its new chapter in data privacy. Seems like a pretty good choice since she is, you know, one of the 20 best cyber lawyers in the state.
Now the bad news is that she’ll need to leave the firm to do it but our loss is a big gain for the people of California.
So why is this a big deal? As explained in a press release from the California Senate Pro Tem today, “the CPPA board consists of experts in privacy, technology, and consumer rights.”
“Californians deserve to have their data protected and the individuals appointed today will bring their expertise in technology, privacy and consumer rights to advance that goal,” said Governor Newsom. “These appointees [including Lydia!] represent a new day in online consumer protection and business accountability.”
“The California Privacy Protection Agency marks a historic new chapter in data privacy by establishing the first agency in the country dedicated to protecting forty million Californians’ fundamental privacy rights,” said Attorney General Becerra. “The CPPA Board will help California residents understand and control their data privacy while holding online businesses accountable.”
“The California Privacy Protection Agency Board is part of California’s commitment to the toughest privacy protection laws in the nation,” said Pro Tem Atkins. “The pandemic put us online more than ever—this Board will help protect the most private information of individuals and families for the world we live in now and in the future. I am confident that our Senate Rules nominee, Lydia de la Torre, will bring the kind of expertise the Board will need to take those protections to the next level.”
“In an era of massive data mining, the establishment of this body moves us in the direction of protecting people’s digital identities and consumer rights regarding their personal information,” said Speaker Rendon. “Special attention needs to be paid to assisting immigrants and non-English proficient Californians to have the same rights as everyone. I am eager to have this board and its capable members go to work.”
In 2018, California became the first state in the U.S. to equip consumers with new privacy tools and new privacy rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act. On November 3, 2020, California voters approved Proposition 24, the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), which created the California Privacy Protection Agency. Enforcement of the CPRA will begin in 2023.
The California Privacy Protection Agency will have full administrative power, authority, and jurisdiction to implement and enforce the California Consumer Privacy Act and the California Privacy Rights Act. The board of the CPPA will appoint the agency’s executive director, officers, counsel and employees. The agency may bring enforcement actions related to the CCPA or CPRA before an administrative law judge. The Attorney General will retain civil enforcement authority over the CCPA and the CPRA.
For TCPAworld dwellers, the CPPA is sort of like the FCC to the TCPA-it will oversee and enforce the statute. That sort of makes Lydia a “Commissioner” of the body that oversees the CCPA. Pretty important–and cool–role to play. She’ll have a big role in implementing state privacy policy–and I couldn’t be happier for her.
So from all of us at TCPAWorld.com– congrats Lydia!
1 Comment