Online Marketing Law! Whats Happening?

California's Online Privacy Protection Act Explained

California has long set the tone for privacy rules across the United States. In 2003, lawmakers introduced the Online Privacy Protection Act - commonly called CalOPPA - to clarify how businesses can gather and use consumer data over the web. The bill emerged as a response to growing concerns over targeted advertising, data mining, and the growing blur between marketing and privacy. By codifying consumer rights and corporate obligations, CalOPPA established a benchmark that other states would later follow. If you’ve ever filled out a form or subscribed to a newsletter, you’ve already interacted with the law’s scope. The act doesn’t just target large enterprises; it applies to any entity that collects personal information from California residents, regardless of its size or revenue. For a deeper dive, you can read the full text of the bill here: