*By Mike Teich*
A sweeping data privacy bill has been approved in California, but it may be too late for internet users to protect their information, said former National Counterterrorism Center officer Dave White.
"You have to consider yourself compromised," he said. "You’ve already given your data away."
Experts are calling it the nation's most far-reaching law to give consumers more control over their personal data. Under the law, customers can request what personal data companies have collected and what third parties have received it.
The passing of the historical bill didn't come without criticism. The ACLU of Northern California said the legislation falls "woefully short" in defending individuals' rights.
"It's a great first step," White said. However, “it doesn’t go far enough."
Companies that collect user data, from Amazon to Microsoft to Uber, lobbied aggressively against the law, pouring millions into a [opposition campaigns](https://www.theverge.com/2018/6/15/17468292/amazon-microsoft-uber-california-consumer-privacy-act).
But consumer advocates called it a milestone victory. "Today was a [huge win](http://money.cnn.com/2018/06/28/technology/california-consumer-privacy-act/index.html) and gives consumer privacy advocates a blueprint for success," James P. Steyer, CEO and founder of Common Sense Media. "We look forward to working together with lawmakers across the nation to ensure robust data privacy protections for all Americans."
For full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/california-passes-historic-privacy-bill).
U.S. markets closed higher to end Monday's session, with tech stocks leading the advance. Gene Goldman, Chief Investment Officer at Cetera Financial Group, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss the potential future of the major U.S. indexes, and how factors like policy moves from the federal reserve and the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war could impact volatility.
U.S. stocks closed Thursday at session lows to end the month of March, posting their worst quarter since the pandemic crash of 2020. However, March was the first positive of 2022. MJP Wealth Advisors President Brian Vendig joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Venus Aerospace is joining the space tourism race in a nonconventional way. Instead of taking passengers to Mars or the Moon, the startup’s goal is to take passengers around the Earth — in less than an hour. Sarah "Sassie" Duggleby, CEO and co-founder, joined Cheddar News to talk about her company's innovative approach to travel and when she expects to carry passengers. "We would hope in the next five years we'll have our plane fully developed and then start entering into all the FAA certifications and qualifications in order to get to commercial flights," she said.
Ride-hailing service Uber has unveiled its plans to become a travel super app, which will include options for users to make plane and train arrangements directly.
If you've sold or exchanged any crypto in 2021, the IRS wants to know. Henry Yoshida, Co-founder & CEO, OF Rocket Dollar joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss which crypto activities are taxable and how to best spend your tax refund.
