GOVERNOR BROWN SIGNS PRIVACY AND CONSUMER LEGISLATION
East County News Service
September 30, 2014 (Sacramento) – Today, Governor Edmund G. “Jerry” Brown Jr. signed into law over a dozen bills to strengthen privacy and consumer protections.
SB 828 aims to protect consumers from warrantless electronic spying on e-mails and phone calls. It prohibits any state agency from assisting the federal government in collection of personal electronically stored data, with certain circumstances.
In the wake of the leaked cell phone photos of nude celebrities, two bills (SB 1255 and AB 2643) strengthen protections for victims when sexually explicit images or videos are transmitted without permission.
Responding to revelations that major retailers including Target and Home Depot had security breaches in which hackers obtained millions of credit card users data, the Governor also signed AB 1710, which requires corporations to offer customers identity theft protection and mitigation services if their security is breached.
Want to avoid buy a vehicle that’s been in a crash or used as a taxi? Vehicle dealers, distributors and manufacturers are now prohibited from inaccurately advertising the vehicle’s prior ownership or use, thanks to AB 1732.
Safety bills include SB 1019, which requires labeling of upholstered furniture to inform consumers if products contain flame retardant chemicals, and SB 511, require requires fire extinguishers in limousines.
Stalking victims will get new protections under AB 1356, while homeowners will gain protections if they are applying for a reverse mortgage thtanks to AB 1700.
AB 1256 and AB 2306 expand laws regulating invasion of privacy.
AB 928 requires state agencies to post privacy policies conspicuously on their websites.
For full text of these bills, visit: http://leginfo.ca.gov/bilinfo.html .