*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).
Joel Flory, CEO of the photo editing app VSCO, discussed the VSCO girl trend and the acquisition of camera and app company, Rylo, in a sitdown with Cheddar.
Cheddar looks back at the high-profile product failures of the year.
The middle-of-the-night moves on Capitol Hill blindsided the solar sector. The industry had launched an ambitious lobbying effort this summer to extend the industry's tax credit and until last night had believed that an extension would be included in the tax packages.
1-800 Contacts, the private-equity-owned online contact lens retailer, is buying 6over6 Vision, an Israeli startup that has pioneered a way for customers to bypass eye doctors and complete in-home eye tests via their smartphones.
These are the headlines you Need 2 Know for Tuesday, December 17, 2019.
The company’s stock fell Monday after a morning report from the newspaper said Boeing would likely make an announcement today. Boeing’s board met Sunday and Monday to determine the future of the plane.
CEO Roei Ganzarski said the excitement of the moment the first electric-powered commercial flight took off felt like the birth of another child.
The U.S. residential solar market posted its biggest quarter on record in Q3 2019, according to a report by Wood Mackenzie Power and Renewables.
Robinhood, the popular single-stock trading app, now allows users to invest in fractions of stocks or funds. The new feature, launched Thursday, is the next step for the fintech unicorn in becoming “the best place for first time and new investors,” Abhishek Fatehpuria, a product manager, told Cheddar.
Wayv seeks to provide an Amazon-like, end-to-end service that includes financing, wholesale, and logistics for cannabis retailers, growers, manufacturers, and distributors.
