*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).
Big-time media mergers have renewed a policy debate in Washington over concentrating too much corporate control in a few powerful hands, said Axios tech reporter David McCabe.
AT&T, once it completes its acquisition of Time Warner, will launch a free 'skinny' bundle called AT&T Watch for all its wireless subscribers, putting the newly created company in direct competition with internet streaming companies. "That is going to be a really disruptive move by AT&T," says Rich Greenfield, analyst at BTIG.
With AT&T's offer for Time Warner getting the green light from a U.S. judge Tuesday, BTIG analyst Rich Greenfield says Comcast will finally get its chance to go after the assets of 21st Century Fox.
The 2018 World Cup starts on Thursday, and Jason Gurwin, co-founder and CEO of FOMOPOP, discusses the best ways to watch all of the soccer games from Russia.
In an email to employees, Tesla's CEO Elon Musk said the company would cut 9 percent of its workforce, mostly affecting salaried employees and not on the production line. The layoffs will not affect Model 3 production targets, Musk said.
President Trump and Kim Jong Un have signed a deal to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula and improve relations between the United States and North Korea. The two leaders met in Singapore for a historic summit, the first ever between the U.S. and North Korea.
Kristen Scholer and Tim Stenovec sit down with journalist and author Gretchen Carlson for a wide-ranging interview. Carlson talks about her new programming called 'Justice for Women,' her life post-Fox News, and her role in eliminating the swimsuit competition from the Miss America pageant.
Plus, Facebook will start regulating e-commerce on its platform more closely. The social media company is rolling out a new feature that will let users give feedback about companies that sell items on Facebook. If a business gets too much negative feedback, Facebook will ban that business from its platform.
The digital wardrobe company's new feature allows users to find inspiration for how to wear items in their wardrobe from social media influencers. Whitney Casey, Co-Founder and CEO of Finery, discusses how the technology works.
A judge is expected to rule Tuesday on AT&T's acquisition of Time Warner. Rich Greenfield, a media and tech analyst for BTIG, says if the deal is blocked, it could open the door for other companies bid for Time Warner.
The cable network is reportedly preparing to make a rival bid for the assets of 21st Century Fox on Wednesday, if a judge rules in favor of AT&T's acquisition of Time Warner. An offer would foil Disney's planned $52.4 billion takeover of the company announced last December.
People around the world, on average, will spend more time online next year than they will spend watching TV, according data from Zenith. However, in the U.S., TV time still beats out time spent online, said Sara Fischer, a media reporter for Axios.
