*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).
From Wall Street to Silicon Valley, these are the top stories that moved markets and had investors, business leaders, and entrepreneurs talking this week on Cheddar.
Edward Snowden, a former U.S. National Security Agency and CIA contractor-turned whistleblower, on Thursday criticized what he called bitcoin's lack of privacy protections.
The largest section of the rocket that launched the main module of China’s first permanent space station into orbit is expected to plunge back to Earth as early as Saturday at an unknown location.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who stopped by Cheddar to discuss her new memoir "Persist," touched on topics ranging from Facebook's ban of former President Trump to dismissing worries over inflation.
A closer look at bitcoin's experience during the pandemic reveals a handful of major developments that have helped push the OG cryptocurrency to new heights.
Peloton is recalling about 125,000 of its treadmills, less than a month after denying they were dangerous and saying it would not pull them from the market, even though they were linked to the death of a child and injuries of 29 others.
Blockfolio CEO Sam Bankman-Fried talked to Cheddar about garnering an endorsement deal with the Jacksonville Jaguar's first pick in the NFL Draft, QB Trevor Lawrence.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) joined Cheddar to discuss her new book "Antitrust," tackling the issues of monopolistic business practices, particularly in Big Tech.
Bill and Melinda Gates say they're divorcing. The Microsoft co-founder and his wife, who launched the world’s largest charitable foundation, said they would continue to work together at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Chinese tech giant Baidu has rolled out its paid driverless taxi service, making it the first company that's commercialized autonomous driving operations in China.
