*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).
Current thinks you should be using blockchain and crypto to listen to your favorite songs. The music streaming platform will aggregate popular music services to one platform.
Facebook and Microsoft released earnings after the Closing Bell today. The two tech companies beat expectations for both revenue and earnings per share.
Bitcoin could face its worst monthly decline in January. Entrepreneur and original "Shark" Kevin Harrington shares his outlook for cryptocurrency, and how he thinks it could transform retail.
There's a spotlight on Facebook as the social media giant reports earnings Wednesday. The company faces increasing scrutiny over fake news on its platform. Flipboard CEO Mike McCue explains the lessons he thinks Facebook needs to learn from journalism.
Stormy Daniels stopped by "Jimmy Kimmel Live" after President Donald Trump's first State of the Union address. Spotify is testing a new app in Australia that's similar to Pandora. The Young Turks CEO Cenk Uygur joins Cheddar to discuss his network's new partnership with Dan Rather. Plus, we talk to stars from "Total Divas" about the reality show's milestone 100th episode.
The stock market is recovering from a volatile few days, but will the surge last or will we see another downward spiral? We fact-check President Trump's State of the Union address. The war between AMC Theaters and MoviePass is heating up. Plus, it's our weekly Your Cheddar show, bringing you the best financial tips.
Ben Leber, former NFL star linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings, and Nate Bauer, Best Buy's Geek Squad Chief Inspector, give their tips for making your sunday super.
Jennifer Brockington, Senior Director of Consumer Marketing Strategy at Ally joins Alyssa Smith at CES to talk about Ally's big plans for the big game!
The Washington Post broke the story that GPS tracking and fitness company Strava had revealed the locations of secret U.S. Military bases. Now, Rosie Spinks, reporter at Quartz, joins Cheddar to explain how and why she has been focusing on the privacy issues around Strava since this summer.
Blockchain technology is most commonly associated with Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. But the technology can and is being used to protect and secure processes in other industries.
