Privacy and Security.

The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) has gone into effect. The law has been compared to the European Unions General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which is the gold standard for privacy protection. The CCPA allows California residents to find out what information companies have collected on them and have the information deleted and not sell it. However, it is only enforced by the state attorney general. Individuals cannot sue a company for not following the law. It does not also go as far as the GDPR in requiring opt-in. Under opt-in, no company can collect data without you giving your permission. However, the CCPA is a significant improvement in consumer privacy in the US. Should you be concerned about your data? The answer is an emphatic yes. With your data, companies and individuals can target you. Consider what Cambridge Analytica did with the SCL Group to commit psychological warfare during the 2016 election in support of the Trump campaign.

On another security area, the TikTok app has come under criticism. The CEO of Reddit, Steve Huffman, called the app “fundamentally parasitic.” The app is always listening and tracking the user. Also, all of the information it collects goes to China. If you value your privacy and data, don’t use the app, don’t put it on any device, and don’t let your children use the app.