EPIC Submits Testimony in Support of Updates to California Data Broker Registry

EPIC today submitted testimony in support of CA SB 361, the Defending Californians’ Data Act sponsored by Senator Josh Becker. The bill expands California’s data broker registration requirements, requiring disclosure of additional sensitive personal information categories they collect. These transparency measures aim to protect vulnerable communities from surveillance and privacy risks.

SB 361 expands mandatory disclosure requirements for data brokers to include whether they collect:

• Account login credentials
• Government-issued ID numbers
• Citizenship and immigration status
• Union membership
• Sexual orientation
• Biometric data

These requirements help Californians understand who has their sensitive information, make informed deletion decisions, identify surveillance risks, and support enforcement against violations.

EPIC has published multiple fact sheets about the harms that stem from data brokers, including harms to immigrants, domestic violence survivors, and public officials.