*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).
The 'Block 5' rocket is the first Falcon 9 rocket that can theoretically be reused 10 times without any maintenance, and up to 100 times with just minor servicing. If SpaceX can pull off seven successful 'Block 5' launches, the company could get clearance from NASA to do manned missions, says Will Goodman, managing editor of Rockets Are Cool.
Huya sees itself as the Twitch of China, with 40 million active monthly users on mobile and $344 million in revenue. The Chinese company traded up as much as 41 percent from its IPO price of $12 on Friday.
The London-based fintech start-up allows users to buy and trade cryptocurrencies, making it a direct competitor to the U.S.-based Robinhood. Revolut also sees itself as a disruptor of the traditional banking industry, as it offers checking accounts, peer-to-peer payments, and international money transfers, says Chad West, the company's chief marketing officer.
Facebook is planning to launch its own cryptocurrency, Cheddar senior reporter Alex Heath has learned. A source says the social media company is "very serious" about building a digital coin for users to make secure online payments. This news comes just days after Facebook reorganized its executive leadership and created a team solely devoted to exploring blockchain technology.
Dropbox stock is trading lower even after the company reported a successful first quarter. The cloud storage company beat estimates on earnings and revenue in its first quarterly report as a public company. Dropbox added 500,000 paid users, bringing its total number of paid users to 11.5 million.
BUST Magazine will host its annual Craftacular event in Brooklyn this weekend. The event brings together dozens of local artists and businesses. We talk to Debbie Stoller, editor-in-chief and co-publisher of BUST Magazine, and Laurie Henzel, creative director and co-publisher of BUST Magazine, about what to expect.
Dropbox stock is trading lower even after the company reported a successful first quarter. The cloud sharing company beat estimates on earnings and revenue in its first quarterly report as a public company. Dropbox also added 500,000 paid users.
The competition between Amazon and Google just got a little more interesting. Amazon has stopped buying Google Shopping ads, according to a report in Bloomberg. Amazon is increasingly expanding its reach in the digital ad market, a space that Google dominates.
The music streaming company's decision to stop promoting R. Kelly, who has been accused of sexually abusing women in a sex cult, was driven by a social push from its users, says Phillip Tracy, tech writer for the Daily Dot.
Dolo uses location to help users find people around them, encouraging them to meet new friends. Safety, of course, is a major concern and the app lets users go by fake names and mask their profile pictures, say the co-founders Raja Haddad and Ben Vigier.
Facebook is developing a virtual token that would allow users around the world to make electronic payments. The news comes after the company announced its biggest-ever executive reshuffle, which put former Messenger chief David Marcus at the head of a new blockchain unit.
Musk claimed on Instagram that his first underground tunnel in LA is "almost done," pending final regulatory approvals, and promised his Boring Company will initially offer free rides to the public. But investors have come to take the Tesla CEO's bold promises with a grain of salt.
The newly formed company connects homeowners to service providers, such as plumbers and painters. ANGI Homeservices, which is one of the biggest revenue sources for its parent company IAC, has seen "strong demand from homeowners" since the merger a year ago, says CEO Chris Terrill.
