Protecting Your Personal Information

If you’re anything like me, you’re probably sick and tired of being bombarded every day with phone calls, text messages and emails from complete strangers, and sometimes even scammers. The constant barrage is frustrating, but it’s also increasingly dangerous. These messages are often part of sophisticated schemes designed to steal your money, personal information or even your identity.

This year, California has made it easier than ever to take back control of your personal information with the state’s Delete Request and Opt-Out Platform, better known as DROP. This free service, created by the California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA), gives Californians real control over how their personal information is shared online.

It’s shocking to learn just how much of our personal information is bought and sold online every day. Data brokers collect our phone numbers, email addresses, home addresses and other personal details from a wide variety of sources. That information is then sold to businesses and organizations, often contributing to the never-ending stream of spam calls, unwanted text messages and emails. Far too often, it also contributes to tragic cases of identity theft and fraud.

Now, we have a way to fight back. California’s DROP program gives you the opportunity to reduce those obnoxious spam calls and deceptive messages by taking greater control of your personal information.

At this point, you’re probably wondering how the program works. First, you’ll need to visit privacy.ca.gov/drop and complete the online application. You’ll be asked to verify your California residency through the state’s secure online system and choose how much information you want to provide. DROP then transmits your request to every registered data broker, who are required by law to delete your personal information and stop selling it.

I know that it may feel counterintuitive to provide your personal information online in order to have it removed from data brokers’ databases. Fortunately, the application is highly secure and operated by the CPPA solely for this purpose. Your information is used only to process your request, and it is never sold or shared.

Beginning Aug. 1, more than 500 registered data brokers will be required by law to process these requests and continue checking for new requests every 45 days. This is a major step forward in our ongoing fight against fraud, and DROP is an incredibly important tool in this effort. It’s my goal to ensure that every resident knows this program exists and that they now have the opportunity to get their information out of the hands of data brokers.

While this won’t eliminate every spam phone call or deceptive email, it’s a meaningful step toward reducing your digital footprint and making it harder for bad actors to target you.

Protecting our neighbors from scams and fraud – especially seniors and older adults, who are disproportionately targeted – has been one of my top priorities since I arrived in the State Legislature. I introduced AB 871, legislation that will strengthen our efforts to prevent financial scams by requiring banks and credit unions to provide employees with training to recognize the warning signs of financial abuse. We’ve all heard far too many heartbreaking stories of neighbors and loved ones who lose their life savings to sophisticated scams before anyone realizes what is happening. By strengthening training requirements for frontline bank and credit union employees, we can help ensure intervention happens sooner and better protect those who are most at risk. I am optimistic that this bill will be signed into law later this year.

As scammers become more sophisticated every day, our response must evolve as well. That’s why it’s so important to empower Californians with new tools like DROP. I encourage you, your neighbors, and your loved ones to take advantage of this free resource by visiting privacy.ca.gov/drop. If you’re a parent or caregiver, you can also submit a request on behalf of your child or an elderly family member. Taking this small step today can help reduce unwanted spam, protect your personal information, and lower your risk of becoming the next target of fraud.

For more information about DROP, or if my office can assist you with any state services, please don’t hesitate to contact us at Assemblymember.Stefani@assembly.ca.gov or call 415-557-2312.

Assemblymember Catherine Stefani represents California’s 19th Assembly District, which includes the westside of San Francisco and northern San Mateo County.