CA Privacy Law: Resources & Protections Joanne McNabb, Chief Office of Privacy Protection California Department of Consumer Affairs
Intellectual Property Society Seminar, January 20, 2004
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Constitutional Right
All people are by nature free and independent and have inalienable rights. Among these are enjoying and defending life and liberty, acquiring, possessing, and protecting property, and pursuing and obtaining safety, happiness, and privacy.
Article 1, Section 1, Constitution of the State of California
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Office of Privacy Protection
CA is only state with such an agency Created by law passed in 2000 Purpose:
“protecting the privacy of individuals’ personal information in a manner consistent with the California Constitution by identifying consumer problems in the privacy area and facilitating development of fair information practices” 3
Office of Privacy Protection
Office functions
Consumer assistance Education and information Coordination with law enforcement Best practice recommendations
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Concerns of Contacts to OPP 40%
38%
30% 20% 10%
15%
17% 9%
8%
6% 2%
3%
3%
0% s l l g l s d P a a e a ns n e m i i c r c P r t i t i i c i e t e c d O n ct ce n i c i k e l a e n a r o V o r a G M in s t P C n f F m e t U f & le h e e r s T e e T i h T h ID c t li O o ID 11/01-12/03 P
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Education and Information
Consumer Information Sheets
ID theft prevention, victim checklist, “criminal” ID theft Protecting SSNs, reading privacy policies, controlling unwanted communications Health info privacy
Workshops and presentations
86 for consumers, 64 for business (11/01-12/03) 6
Work with Law Enforcement
Advisory Committee to High Tech Crimes/Identity Theft Task Force
5 regional task forces of local, state and federal law enforcement
Provide information on new laws via web site Make case referrals
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“Best Practice” Recommendations
Recommendations of “best practices,” beyond legal requirements By phone in response to requests Written sets developed with advisory groups
SSN Confidentiality Notification of Security Breach
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CA Privacy Laws Enacted 1999-2003 18 16
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14
15
12 10
9
8 6 4
7 5
2 0 1999
2000
2001
2002
2003 9
Fair Information Practice Principles (FIPS)
Transparency Collection Limitation Purpose Specification Use Limitation Data Quality Individual Participation Security Accountability 10
CA Privacy Laws & FIPs
Limits on collection of personal info Limits on use of personal info Requirements of notice of privacy rights Limits on unwanted commercial communications Requirements for data security Requirements for individual access to personal info Rights & remedies for identity theft victims 11
Limits on Collection of Personal Information
Ban on recording any personal info when accepting payment by credit card Ban on recording DL # when accepting payment by check Ban on collecting DL# and SSN for supermarket club cards Ban on wiretapping, CATV/satellite TV monitoring Ban on state agency collecting personal info not authorized by law or regulation (IPA) 12
Limits on Use of Personal Information 1
Info “swiped” from drivers licenses (except for age verification, etc.) Onward sharing of “marketing info” of credit card holders subject to opt-out right Public display of Social Security numbers Onward sharing of personal info collected for supermarket club cards 13
Limits on Use of Personal Information 2
Printing of >5 digits of credit card numbers on electronic customer receipts
Onward sharing of residential telephone customer calling patterns, financial info, etc. Use by state agency other than as authorized by law (IPA, but cf. Public Records Act)
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Limits on Use of Personal Information 3
Onward sharing of medical info, other than for TPO, subject to prior consent Use of medical info for marketing purposes, as defined Limited access to birth/death certificates, no SSNs or MMNs on publicly available birth/death record indices 15
Limits on Use of Personal Information 4
Sharing of consumer credit & background info, except for specified purposes, by CRAs, Investigative RAs (but cf. FCRA/FACTA) Sharing of personal financial info w/ 3rd parties by financial institutions (SB 1, eff. 7/1/04) Use of auto “black box” data for other than vehicle safety, etc. (AB 213, eff. 7/1/04) 16
Notice Requirements 1
Notice of security breach involving specified personal info Notice to vets from county recorder re DD214s as public records Notice on collection of personal info by state agencies (IPA) Privacy policy notice in state offices and on agency web sites 17
Notice Requirements 2
Notice of privacy policies/practices on commercial web sites collecting personal info on CA residents (AB 68, eff. 7/04) Upon request, notice to customer of info sharing details or opt-out opportunity (SB 27, eff. 1/05) Notice of presence of auto “black box” in owner’s manual or subscription contract (AB 213, eff. 7/04) 18
Data Security
Destruction of customer records by businesses by shredding, etc. Activation process required on substitute credit cards mailed to consumers Credit/debit card “skimmers” outlawed State agencies must use security safeguards to protect personal info (IPA) 19
Individual Access to Information
Access to and right to correct personal info in records of state agencies (IPA) Access to and right to dispute personal info in medical records (PAHRA, cf. federal HIPAA)
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Limits on Commercial Communications
Do-Not-Call Registry (state/federal laws) Ban on unsolicited commercial text messages sent to cell phones/pagers Ban on spam sent in violation of ISP’s policy Ban on spam sent w/out prior consent of recipient (but cf. federal CAN SPAM Act)
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Identity Theft Rights & Remedies
Definition of crime, including possession of documents with intent to defraud Requirement of local police to take report Expedited judicial process for victims Database for victims of “criminal” ID theft Victim rights in debt collection and against claimants Victim access to documents on fraudulent accounts (but cf. FCRA/FACTA) 22
Joanne McNabb, Chief Office of Privacy Protection California Department of Consumer Affairs 400 R Street, Suite 3080 Sacramento, CA 95814 916-322-4420 www.privacy.ca.gov 866-785-9663 23