(Washington, DC) – Dan Smith, president and CEO of the Consumer Data Industry Association (CDIA), made the following statement today about the California Assembly’s passage of the Delete Act (SB 362):
“When California passes a law, other states pay attention. That’s why it’s important for legislators to get this bill right so that other states don’t follow a severely flawed approach.
“We favor pausing SB 362 for a full and transparent discussion around the unintended consequences it would have for all Californians.
“The bill undermines consumer fraud protections, hurts small businesses’ ability to compete, and solidifies the big platforms’ data dominance. It also empowers third parties to request to delete consumers’ data with no guardrails. That could incentivize a cottage industry of groups to mislead consumers into paying for services they don’t understand.
“Policymakers should also scrutinize estimates of the bill’s fiscal impact, which likely vastly underestimate its price tag for California taxpayers.
“Every Californian ought to question how a bill co-authored and pushed by a Silicon Valley investor, who likely stands to profit from it, landed on the governor’s desk.”
About the Consumer Data Industry Association
The Consumer Data Industry Association (CDIA) is the voice of the consumer reporting industry, representing consumer reporting agencies including the nationwide credit bureaus, regional and specialized credit bureaus, background check and residential screening companies, and others. Founded in 1906, CDIA promotes the responsible use of consumer data to help consumers achieve their financial goals, and to help businesses, governments and volunteer organizations avoid fraud and manage risk. Through data and analytics, CDIA members empower economic opportunity all over the world, helping ensure fair and safe transactions for consumers, facilitating competition and expanding consumers’ access to financial and other products suited to their unique needs. Find us online at www.cdiaonline.org.
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