Consumer Data Privacy Laws and “Do Not Share My Personal Information”

Read the following script or watch the first uduforu vlog post on YouTube!

Greetings!

        I am Martin E. Dodge, and welcome to the first uduforu vlog! The vlog posts on the first of every month. I will share stories about my creations, uduforu business, and encourage you to explore new interests and expand your possibilities. In addition, you may discover ways to reduce stress and achieve goals!

Before I get into today’s topic:

        Happy Birthday to my first book and uduforu! My e-book “Hip Replacement Adaptive Equipment and the Sport of Recovery: A Patient’s Perspective” was published on amazon.com two years ago. The book was the first item uduforu had for sale, and the paperback version soon followed.

        The creation of this book started my journey into a lot of unfamiliar territories. I talk about that journey in the blog at uduforu.com – links are in the video description below.

Today’s topic is about Consumer Data Privacy Laws and “Do Not Share My Personal Information”

        The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) was passed in 2018, and it went into effect in January 2020. It is the first law of its kind in the USA. The law is similar to but not as comprehensive as the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). In March 2021, Virginia passed the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (VCDPA), which takes effect January 2023 – and it is more like the European Union’s law. In addition, other states have similar laws on the way. This kind of consumer protection is long overdue in the USA.

        In general, the data privacy laws require companies to allow consumers to opt-out of sharing their data. Most small businesses will find that they are exempt from complying with the laws, but for how long? Passing laws state by state means there is no national consumer data privacy standard. To add more confusion, as the laws gain news coverage, people will assume the laws apply to all businesses. And people are not required to understand any of this, whatever the - any of this - may be.

        The enforcement of data protection laws will create an ecosystem of related services. Businesses will need to buy services to ensure compliance with the laws. But big companies will not share a proportionate burden of compliance with small companies.

        For example, A small business uses social media on its website for marketing. The business has little or no control over what data social media collects from its website. The business now has extra website expenses and the potential to lose sales due to data privacy issues. I do not think social media will experience an equivalent financial struggle.

So, why am I talking about this?

        Uduforu is exempt from the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) because it does not do business with the residents of countries in the European Union. The Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (VCDPA) activates in 2023, so the wait is on for its implications. However, uduforu does business with the residents of California, so the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) can affect how it manages data.

        Uduforu does not qualify for regulation by the California Consumer Privacy Act, but I implemented compliance measures. Shopify is the web host for the website uduforu.com. Shopify encourages businesses to comply with the CCPA  by installing an app from its app store. But it is a developing issue, and the offerings in this arena are mixed.

        The search for an app led me to Cookiebot, which is not an app. I use Cookiebot to provide a data-sharing opt-out for visitors of uduforu.com. Installing Cookiebot was not easy – it involved dealing with code, Google Tag Manager, and other technical procedures. I am stubborn and have the time, so I got it working. However, the average small business will want to pay someone to do this, which may add to existing website expenses.

        I believe consumers should have the ability to opt-out of sharing their data. Visitors to uduforu.com will find a prominent banner to choose from, and uduforu will evolve with new developments. I have noticed the option on other websites, but sometimes you have to look for it. Visiting a website can be an automatic opt-in unless you find and use the opt-out. The option is at the bottom of most websites.

        Consumer data privacy is a huge issue that has significant implications on so many fronts. Unfortunately, people are unlikely to differentiate what companies the new data privacy laws apply to or understand what the data is. So, small businesses should have a growing awareness of data protection laws and prepare their websites to allow the option of “Do Not Share My Personal Information.” Businesses should also expect higher costs due to the inclusion of data privacy measures. Data collection companies have been profiting from our freely provided information for years. There is no way to turn back the clock on data collection, but people should have the ability to choose how they participate.

Use the links for more information:

October 2021 uduforu vlog: https://youtu.be/M0XSbMcL_84 

uduforu blog post “Distractions, Detours, and Obstacles:” https://uduforu.com/blogs/uduforu-blog/distractions-detours-and-obstacles

State of California Department of Justice (for the California Consumer Protection Act – CCPA): https://oag.ca.gov/privacy/ccpa

Virginia’s Legislative Information System (for the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (VCDPA): https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?211+sum+SB1392