CTIA Asks California AG to Clarify 'Ambiguous' CCPA Language

Wireless companies seek flexible California privacy rules, CTIA commented last week to the California attorney general on implementing the 2018 California Consumer Privacy Act. The state didn't post comments, so we obtained some (see 1903110042). AG Xavier Becerra (D) should “bring clarity to the unclear or ambiguous statutory provisions that otherwise will operate to the detriment of consumers and businesses,” wrote CTIA. Don’t prescribe how companies verify authenticity of consumer requests for information, it said. Don’t require businesses give consumers information that may risk privacy and data security, it said. Exempt businesses from having to provide information that may reveal trade secrets, CTIA said. Companies should be considered as complying with rules barring discrimination based on what data consumers provide “if there is a reasonable basis for the difference in price or rate, or the level or quality of goods and services it offers to a consumer in exchange for the consumer’s data,” the association said. Consumers should be able to choose which data may be sold rather than an all-or-nothing choice, it said. If a consumer already opted into sale of certain data, global opt-out shouldn’t reverse that, it said. The AG says written comments are available under the California Public Records Act. We filed a PRA request Tuesday after the AG office declined to provide documents voluntarily.