CCPA

The CCPA is coming.

Keep Calm.

nSightful has your back.

As a person whose business embraces data in its many configurations—collection, storage, management, distribution, etc.—you need to make sure you stay on top of developments within the industry that will affect the way your company does business. That’s why you need to be aware of the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).

WHAT EXACTLY IS THE CCPA?
In simple terms, it’s legislation that grants Californians some fundamental protections regarding the privacy of their personal data, especially that which can be gathered and put to business use.

The CCPA—legislation signed by California Governor Jerry Brown in 2018—will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2020, with enforcement to take place six months later. However, the act contains significant provisions that address the collection and manipulation of data from 12 months prior—or since July 1, 2019—to the “start date.” It’s therefore imperative to make sure the data for which your company is responsible is collected, shared, stored, and otherwise addressed as soon as possible.

BUT…MY BUSINESS ISN’T IN CALIFORNIA.
Your web properties may still be under scrutiny, as the CCPA applies to businesses with consumers in California and who have: annual gross revenues of $25 million or more; annual transactions involving the personal information of 50,000 individuals, households, or other entities; and derivation of 50% or more of its annual revenues from marketing the personal information of consumers.

Should your business meet any of these directives and interact with consumers in California, you could be liable, as the law will be enforced against any business that collects personal consumer data, sells such information for commercial services, or markets such said sensitive data to a third party.

WHAT DOES THE CCPA REQUIRE FOR COMPLIANCE?
In order to make certain your business adheres to the legislation as it applies to the privacy rights of California consumers, you must be prepared to observe and respect, primarily transparency and disclosure guidelines, ever mindful of consumer privacy rights, and the reasonable expectations associated within those rights. The Data Professionals at nSightful are prepared to more fully explain the fine points of the legislation upon request.

HOW SEVERE ARE THE PENALTIES?
It’s essential that your business realizes that violations of the CCPA carry significant penalties, which vary according to transgression. To present one terse example as to the potential severity of the fines associated with violation of the CCPA: Suppose your organization is found in violation—however unintentionally—of the law due to amassment of personal information by an ad platform hosting on your website without appropriate consumer disclosure.

For purposes of argument, assume your site has had 100,000 users from whom such information has been harvested, translating into 100,000 separate violations of non-compliance, and you could be on the hook for $250,000,000. It’s admittedly an extreme scenario, but it underscores the seriousness of this legislation and why you need to keep an eye on its implications for your business.

ENTER nSightful. 

Whether you realize it or not, as your organization’s website owner, you’re responsible for the users’ personal information harvested from all of your platforms. Ignorance of developments like the CCPA will not excuse from any compliances thereto. It’s vital to start your protection process with an audit from professionals who have an intricate knowledge of data management and how it applies specifically to the inner workings of your Marketing Universe.

We’d be honored to visit with you further to discuss how to address the CCPA and other matters in this dynamic field. We welcome your questions…please give us a call at (866) 249-1977 or check in at nSightful.com.