Consumer Watchdog has condemned Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent veto of Assembly Bill 3048, which aimed to simplify data privacy for Californians by allowing web browsers to universally honor users’ privacy preferences. The advocacy group argues that this decision represents a significant setback for consumer rights and raises concerns about the influence of tech giants like Google over state policy.
“People don’t want to click thousands of times to tell companies not to collect their data,” said Justin Kloczko, a tech and privacy advocate for Consumer Watchdog. He highlighted that the California Privacy Protection Agency had sponsored the bill to empower residents with easier control over their data, which is crucial amid growing concerns over AI and algorithmic discrimination.
In his veto letter, Newsom defended his decision, claiming that most internet browsers already offer similar options or allow users to download plug-ins for that functionality. However, Kloczko countered that major browsers like Google Chrome, Apple Safari, and Microsoft Edge, which dominate nearly 90 percent of the market, do not provide a global opt-out feature, leaving consumers with limited choices.