*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).
FAANG stocks (Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, and Google) are taking over old-school media companies, growing "at a rate that no one thought was possible," says Lorne Brown, the CEO of the ad tech firm Operative. To keep up, traditional media outlets should consider "comingling" with the newcomers, says Brown.
Since customers now have so much at their fingertips, "we need to weed through everything," says Jenny Fleiss, CEO of Code Eight, a personal shopping start-up owned by Walmart. Fleiss was also the co-founder of fashion-tech company Rent the Runway.
Amazon is betting big on AR/VR and its plans do not include any headsets or devices. PCMag's Rob Marvin joins Cheddar to discuss his exclusive look at the upcoming company's development platform, Sumerian.
The giant e-commerce site has launched Sumerian, an easy-to-use platform that lets users build AR and VR apps, explains Rob Marvin, PCMag Associate Features Editor
Netflix stock is surging after the company reported first-quarter earnings, disclosing that the company added 7.4 million subscribers in the first three months of this year. Netflix now has 125 million subscribers globally. This year, Netflix plans to spend $8 billion on developing original content.
Goldman Sachs reported earnings on Tuesday, soaring past Wall Street estimates. The firm said its quarterly revenue hit $10 billion, an increase of 27%. Goldman's successful first quarter is due in large part to the recent surge in trading and market volatility.
Plus, we talk artificial intelligence with Sam Mantle, managing director of digital enterprise at Luxoft. The company recently announced a partnership with Softbank Robotics America to improve technology in "Pepper" the robot. Mantle digs into how Pepper can be used across industries from travel, to retail, to hospitality, noting that developers are just starting to learn how expansive and beneficial artificial intelligence can be.
The software developer Luxoft is teaming up with Softbank Robotics America to bring its humanoid robot Pepper to life.
"This is about making robots accessible," says Sam Mantle, managing director of digital enterprise at Luxoft.
Beyond direct competitors Hulu and Amazon, more companies will jump in to give Netflix a run for its money. "The competition is intensifying across all fronts," says Paul Verna, principal analyst at eMarketer. The streaming service posted strong earnings Tuesday, with a massive growth in subscribers and better-than-expected revenue.
The streaming service added more than 7.4 million new users in the first quarter. The fact that so much of that growth is coming from the international market is a positive for investors, says Kyle Robertson, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of StartU.
Tesla is temporarily suspending production of its Model 3 vehicle in an effort to reduce manufacturing bottlenecks. The pause in production was planned and is expected to last less than a week. However, this is the second time Tesla has paused Model 3 production since February, leading many to worry about whether the company can deliver on its ambitious production targets.
Netflix is off to a strong start this year. The stock surged after the company reported first-quarter earnings, disclosing that the company added 7.4 million subscribers in the first three months of this year. Netflix now has 125 million subscribers globally.
A recent report by the investigative news site Reveal found that Tesla's factory is ridden with safety hazards, and that the carmaker categorizes workplace injuries as "personal medical issues" to decrease its rate of injuries. The company puts "production of cars over worker safety," said Will Evans, one of the reporters who wrote the article.
