News from Assemblymember Ed Chau

Legislation to establish internet privacy rules in California clears two policy committees

On Tuesday, July 18^th, Assembly Bill (AB) 375, authored by Assemblymember Ed Chau (D-Monterey Park), was approved by the Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications on a 9-1 vote and the Senate Committee on Judiciary on 5-2 vote. AB 375, the California Broadband Internet Privacy Act, seeks to ensure that consumers enjoy choice, transparency and security in the treatment of their personal information when accessing the internet through an Internet Service Provider (ISP).

“ISPs have a unique ability to track your activity online, like your browsing habits, which can reveal what, when and how long you visit particular sites, and other highly sensitive information about you, including personal or sexual activities, political or religious interests, health or financial problems, and more,” said Assemblymember Chau, Chair of the Assembly Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection. “This bill will provide consumers with real transparency and control over how their ISP can use, share or sell their personal information.”

On October 27, 2016, the FCC adopted rules titled “Protecting the Privacy of Customers of Broadband and Other Telecommunications Services” (FCC-16-148). The FCC at the time described the rules as giving “consumers the tools they need to choose how their Internet Service Providers (ISPs) use and share their personal data. Building on widely accepted privacy principles, the rules require[d] that ISPs provide their customers with meaningful choice and keep customer data secure while giving ISPs the flexibility they need to continue to innovate.”

However, before the FCC internet privacy rules went into effect, Congress and the Trump Administration approved a measure (Senate Joint Resolution 34) that repealed the privacy rules adopted by the FCC.  A public opinion poll conducted after Congress acted found that 80% of Democrats and 75% of Republicans wanted the President to veto the bill and allow the FCC privacy rules to take effect.

AB 375 broadly protects customer personally identifiable information through an opt-in consent requirement for the use, sale, and sharing of personal information beyond service delivery and other necessary functions. It also prohibits pay-for-privacy practices and penalties for customers who do not consent to unnecessary uses, and requires providers to protect customer information through reasonable security procedures and practices. The bill also allows ISPs freedom to use customer information in open and appropriate ways.

Providing lead testimony in support of the bill on Tuesday were professor Scott Jordan, the former Chief Technology Officer for the FCC under the Obama Administration, Ernesto Falcon, Legal Counsel for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and Sarah DeYoung, Executive Director for the California Association of Competitive Telecommunications. Also in support were numerous consumer advocacy groups who testified before today’s committees.

“If your ISP wants to collect information about you while you’re surfing the web, and then use it for their own reasons, like selling targeted ads, they should ask your permission first. It’s Your Data. Your Privacy. Your Choice,” concluded Assemblymember Chau.

Below are links to additional comments made by Assemblymember Chau on AB 375:

Assemblymember Chau says there was a similar FCC regulation scheduled to go into effect earlier this year. (:17)

https://caucus.asmdc.org/sites/default/files/audio/20170619AB375InternetPrivacyChau2.mp3

Assemblymember Chau says AB 375 gives consumers control of the personal information collected by internet service providers. (:17)

https://caucus.asmdc.org/sites/default/files/audio/20170619AB375InternetPrivacyChau1.mp3

Assemblymember Chau says California needs AB 375 to remain a leader on internet privacy. (:11)

https://caucus.asmdc.org/sites/default/files/audio/20170619AB375InternetPrivacyChau3.mp3

Assemblymember Chau says the idea behind AB 375 is really quite simple. (:03)

https://caucus.asmdc.org/sites/default/files/audio/20170619AB375InternetPrivacyChau5.mp3

Assemblymember Chau says there is wide spread support for the idea giving consumers the right to control what ISPs can do with their personal information. (:17)

https://caucus.asmdc.org/sites/default/files/audio/20170619AB375InternetPrivacyChau6.mp3

Governor signs Legislation dealing with dismissal of teachers charged with sexual offenses

On August 8th Governor Brown signed Assembly Bill (AB) 872, authored by Assemblymember Ed Chau (D-Monterey Park), which updates the list of sex offenses that require mandatory suspension of a teaching credential by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC).

“Under current law, only certain sex offenses require an automatic suspension of credentials, which can lead to situations where a person charged with a sexual offense can remain in the classroom; further exacerbating the potential danger to students,” said Assemblymember Ed Chau. “This bill updates the list of sex offenses that requires the CTC to suspend a person’s credential.”

Education Code section 44010 specifies what constitutes a “sex offense,” including the licensing and disciplinary work of the CTC. This bill will update current law to include a comprehensive list of offenses, such as aggravated sexual assault of a child, harmful matter sent with intent to seduce a minor, and arranging a meeting with a minor for lewd/lascivious behavior.

“AB 872 provides the CTC with the necessary tools to protect students by removing a teacher from the classroom who is charged with a sex offense, pending the outcome of their case,” concluded Assemblymember Chau.

Assemblymember Ed Chau represents the 49th Assembly District, comprised of the communities of Alhambra, Arcadia, El Monte, Monterey Park, Rosemead, San Gabriel, San Marino, Temple City and portions of Montebello, and South El Monte.