California Governor Jerry Brown has signed legislation to protect state residents affected by security breaches that compromise their personal data, leave them susceptible to identity theft and cyber criminals.
The updates law requires companies that suffer a breach to offer free identity theft prevention and mitigation services to consumers for at least a year if their Social Security or driver’s license number was compromised.
The legislation applies to individuals and companies that conduct business in the State. However while California law requires companies to offer identity theft protection services, the onus is on the consumer to accept those services.
Among other bills signed is one that prohibits state agencies from helping the federal Government carry out searches of individuals’ electronically stored data, such as phone records, unless it has a warrant. Another law requires state agencies to post their privacy policies prominently on their websites.
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