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government policy
Wiretapping change sparks big privacy fight in the Golden State
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 690 into law, eliminating the private right to sue under the California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA) for unauthorized use of pen registers and trap-and-trace devices for internet tracking. Sponsors argue the change prevents thousands of frivolous lawsuits against small businesses using common tracking tools like cookies, while privacy advocates contend it weakens consumer protections and enables companies to track and sell personal data with reduced legal accountability. The law narrows a 2015 provision that previously allowed residents to sue for violations with penalties up to $5,000 per violation, plus triple damages.
Why it matters: California residents and privacy advocates lose a litigation avenue against unauthorized metadata surveillance, while businesses gain protection from civil suits over cookie and tracking pixel usage; security and privacy practitioners should understand this shifts enforcement leverage away from private litigation toward regulatory action and public enforcement mechanisms.
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