*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).
An app called CommonStock has come out of stealth mode with more than $1.8 million in seed funding to make stock trading more social, Cheddar has learned. "We’ve created what’s like a virtual trading floor where anyone can create a group and easily share information about a stock or crypto,” said CEO David McDonough.
The streaming player company introduced a set of wireless speakers to be integrated into the Roku system. “We know that when users sit down, and they stream their favorite shows or listen to music, if they’ve got great sound as a part of that, it’s just a more immersive experience,” says Mark Ely, vice president of product management for Roku.
The streaming platform added fewer subscribers and generated less revenue than projected in the second quarter. Shares plunged by more than 12 percent in after-hours trading.
This year, Amazon Prime Day is bigger than ever. Cheddar's Hope King explains how this fabricated shopping holiday is a way for Amazon to lure even more Prime subscribers.
With Amazon’s fourth annual Prime Day just around the corner, experts warn the retail giant might not have the best deals out there. “Last year, 20 percent of items that Amazon customers bought on Prime Day were actually cheaper at other stores,” says Louryn Strampe, deal editor at Mobile Nations' Thrifter site.
The start-up launched a pilot program at the Rockaways on Friday. The move comes shortly after Lime entered a partnership with Uber that allows Lime to integrate into the ride-hailing app. "To grow throughout the entire area, this is the first opportunity for us," says Caen Contee, Vice President of Marketing, Business Development, and International Expansion.
The airline announced plans to launch the first direct link between Nairobi and New York, and the CEO believes this is a good first step for countries to invest in Africa. "It's statistically, by far, the youngest population on earth, and is, particularly in Kenya, heavily digitalized," Sebastian Mikosz tells Cheddar. "It's a continent of many opportunities."
The telecommunications company announced two additional unlimited plans for customers, a trend many other wireless companies are turning to. One is a basic plan that focuses on texts and calls, and the other, Unlimited Plus, allows for heavier data use. “One size doesn’t necessarily fit all,” says Brandon “Dow” Draper, the company’s Chief Commercial Officer. "We're really starting to just tailor this to people's needs."
Uber laid off 100 backup drivers for in its autonomous driving division on Thursday, a sign that the fatal crash in Tempe, Ariz., has tempered the company's ambitions. "Uber is saying all the right things publicly, but the accident in Arizona has really set them back," says Mark Rechtin, executive editor at Motor Trend.
The subscription toy company creates boxes of creative DIY projects that are both educational and fun, says CEO Sandra Oh Lin. “We’re trying to instill that creative confidence as well as the tools.”
