*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).
People show off their support for causes in a number of ways. Some post Facebook statuses, others attend events, and there might be a few people in your office who canvas the front of their laptop with stickers. Now, if you're a fan of buttons, you can invest in a digital upgrade that allows you to personalize your button each and every day. Andrew Zenoff is the CEO and founder of Bean Authentic, a digital button company.
The TicHome Mini smart speaker is both portable and waterproof. Ying Zhou, Business Director of Mobvoi, explains how this product differentiates itself in the crowded market.
A recent study featured in Harvard Business Review explores how more women can get to the top. The feature's author Evelyn Orr of the Korn Ferry Institute explains what interviewing 57 female CEOs unveiled about the gender gap.
Spotify reportedly filed for an IPO, Roku launches a streaming service, and more. Dana Wollman, Executive Editor at Engadget, joins Cheddar to discuss the latest headlines in tech.
Imagine driving cross-country in a Tesla Model 3 in just 50 hours. That's what Alex Roy, Editor-At-Large at The Drive, did at the end of December. He joins Cheddar to discuss his reaction to Tesla's autopilot feature and charging capability.
Alex Roy, editor-at-large at The Drive, says that, like with the tech giant, customers buy into Tesla despite issues. It's not about saving the environment or on-time deliveries. It's about a premium vehicle.
The power of A.I. can reach deeper than just recommending which show to binge on Netflix. It can also be used to analyze millions of images to predict things like income, political leanings, and buying habits. Steve Lohr, Technology and Economics Reporter at The New York Times, joined us to discuss artificial intelligence's full potential when it comes to predictive analytics.
Social polling platform The Tylt is on a mission to take a pulse of the internet, and provide people a platform to have their voices heard. The company's General Manager Kyle Lelli explains how its users are responding to current events.
Spotify has entered 2018 with a bang. Yesterday, news broke that Spotify was being hit with a $1.6 billion lawsuit. Then today, AXIOS reported that Spotify had filed IPO documents with the SEC at the end of December. The two journalists who broke these stories join Cheddar to break down the news and what's in store for Spotify.
MERGE VR is a toy-focused company that is producing products to help kids get excited about virtual reality and augmented reality toys. Their Merge Cube is a new toy on the market that enables kids to turn a black cube into multiple objects.
