SACRAMENTO, CA — Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed Assembly Bill 1542, the California Data Privacy Act of 2026, authored by Assemblymember Christopher M. Ward (D-San Diego). The legislation would have strengthened the California Consumer Privacy Act by prohibiting businesses, service providers, and contractors from selling or sharing sensitive personal information with third parties.
“I am deeply disappointed by the Governor’s decision to veto AB 1542,” said Assemblymember Chris Ward. “Californians should not have to worry that the most sensitive details of their lives are being bought and sold to the highest bidder. As technology makes it easier than ever to collect and monetize our personal information, the need for stronger protections will only grow. This fight is not over, and I remain committed to protecting Californians’ privacy.”
The monetization and sharing of this deeply sensitive information undermines our civil rights and puts all consumers in danger from exploitation. Recent actions by the Federal Government only further emphasized the imminent danger these practices pose, and the urgent need for additional protection. AB 1542 would have taken bold action at the state and ensure that the safety of all Californians is made a top priority and reaffirmed our constitutional right to privacy at a time when our communities need it the most.
“In his veto message, the governor claims to support protecting Californians' sensitive personal information, but the opt-out system he defends leaves the burden on individuals while that data will be sold, bought, and used to track immigrants, people seeking reproductive care, and even rally-goers and union organizers. California once led the nation on privacy,” said John Bennett, Initiative Director at the California Initiative for Technology & Democracy. “This veto leaves California trailing other states, exposing all of us to further abuses of our data.
“We are disappointed in the Governor’s decision to allow businesses to continue to sell consumers’ sensitive personal information,” said Matt Schwartz, senior policy analyst at Consumer Reports. “This practice leads to serious consumer harms, including stalking, identity theft, and predatory targeting and should be stopped, as has been done in several other states at this point. Vetoing this bill is a gift to data brokers, scammers, and spammy marketers.
“For the immigrant communities and survivors we serve, the right to privacy is inseparable from the right to live safely and with dignity,” said Dahni Tsuboi, Chief Executive Officer of Asian Americans
Advancing Justice Southern California. “The sharing or selling of sensitive personal data such as immigration status, precise location, health information, and Social Security numbers can have devastating consequences, exposing individuals and their families to immigration enforcement, abuse, stalking, discrimination, and other threats to their safety and well-being.