Why a new California law could change the way all Americans browse the internet

"Assembly Bill 566, recently signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom, requires companies that make web browsers to offer users an opt-out signal that automatically tells websites not to share or sell their personal information as they browse. It will likely be easier for companies to roll out the service for the entire country, rather than for users only in California. It's such a trivial implementation, said Emory Roane, associate director of policy at Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, an organization that pushed for the legislation."

"The legislation, a first of its kind in the country, was sponsored by the California Privacy Protection Agency, the state's consumer privacy watchdog, as well as several consumer advocacy and privacy rights groups. Under the law, browsers like Google's Chrome and Microsoft's Edge will have until the beginning of 2027 to create a way for consumers to select the signal. Combined with recent changes from other states, the new law could be a tipping point in how web traffic is treated in the United States."

"National standard California already offers privacy protections under the California Consumer Privacy Act, including a right to opt out from having their information sold. But advocates for the new law point out this still puts the burden on the consumer to navigate to web pages and individually select web pages to opt out from. The new tool will effectively automate that process, giving consumers a single toggle to keep their data protected."

Assembly Bill 566 requires makers of web browsers to offer an opt-out signal that automatically instructs websites not to share or sell users' personal information while browsing. Browsers must implement a user-selectable signal by the beginning of 2027. The law was sponsored by the California Privacy Protection Agency and several consumer advocacy and privacy rights organizations. The requirement effectively automates the California Consumer Privacy Act's opt-out right, eliminating the need for users to visit individual sites to opt out. Because browser vendors can deploy the feature nationally with minimal technical changes, the law is likely to become a de facto national standard and reshape how web traffic is treated.

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