CPRA
What is CPRA? Understanding the California Privacy Rights Act
The California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) is a comprehensive privacy law that builds upon and expands the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), solidifying California’s position as a leader in consumer data protection. Passed in November 2020 and fully enforceable as of July 1, 2023, the CPRA significantly enhances the rights of California residents and places new obligations on businesses handling personal data.
CPRA vs. CCPA: What’s Changed?
While the CCPA laid the foundation for consumer privacy rights in California, the CPRA strengthens and refines these protections in several key ways:
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Expanded Consumer Rights: CPRA adds the right to correct inaccurate personal information and the right to limit the use of sensitive personal data (e.g., race, health information, geolocation, etc.).
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New Category – Sensitive Personal Information (SPI): This new classification triggers additional protections and opt-out rights, giving consumers more control over particularly sensitive data.
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Creation of the CPPA: The CPRA established the California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA) as the state’s first dedicated privacy regulator. It holds enforcement authority, drafts regulations, and ensures businesses comply with privacy laws.
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Longer Lookback Period: The CPRA extends the lookback period for data access requests from 12 to 24 months, giving consumers broader insight into how their data is collected and used.
Key Requirements for Businesses
The CPRA introduces stricter compliance obligations, particularly for businesses that process high volumes of personal data. According to DataGrail’s CISO Guide to CPRA, organizations must now:
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Honor expanded consumer rights (access, deletion, correction, opt-out, and data limitation).
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Implement robust data governance practices to handle SPI and demonstrate accountability.
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Conduct regular risk assessments and audits for high-risk data processing activities.
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Establish clear vendor contracts to ensure service providers comply with CPRA standards.
CPRA and Children's Data
The CPRA increases protection for minors under the age of 16, requiring opt-in consent for the sale or sharing of personal information. It also introduces triple penalties for violations involving children's data, signaling California’s strong stance on youth data privacy.
Learn more: Children's Data and the CPRA
Enhanced Enforcement & Consumer Trust
Through the creation of the California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA), the CPRA transitions privacy oversight from the Attorney General to a specialized authority. This move allows for:
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Proactive enforcement and audits
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Guidance on best practices
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Faster resolution of privacy complaints
Businesses that meet CPRA requirements will not only stay compliant but also build consumer trust, especially as awareness of digital rights continues to rise.
CPRA’s Impact on Privacy Metrics and Reporting
The CPRA also imposes new reporting requirements for businesses that process large volumes of data. Companies handling data from over 10 million California residents must now publicly disclose key privacy metrics, such as:
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The number of access, deletion, correction, and opt-out requests received
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The median response time for each request
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The number of requests denied and the reason for denials
This transparency reinforces corporate accountability and allows consumers to evaluate how businesses manage personal data.
Learn more: Metrics & Reporting Requirements
Final Thoughts
The California Privacy Rights Act marks a significant evolution in U.S. data privacy regulation. By enhancing consumer rights, increasing business accountability, and establishing a dedicated privacy agency, the CPRA sets a high standard for how personal data should be handled in the digital age. For businesses, compliance isn't just about avoiding penalties—it’s about demonstrating a commitment to privacy, transparency, and trust.
