California’s SB 1386, also known as the California Security Breach Information Act, was enacted in 2002 and became effective in 2003. It was the first law of its kind in the United States to require commercial entities that own or license personal information of California residents to notify them in the event of a security breach that compromises their unencrypted data. The law aims to protect the privacy and security of personal information and to enable individuals to take preventive measures against identity theft and fraud. The law applies to any business or person that conducts business in California and that owns or licenses computerized data that includes personal information, as defined by the law. Personal information includes an individual’s first name or first initial and last name in combination with any one or more of the following data elements: Social Security number, driver’s license number or California identification card number, account number, credit or debit card number, in combination with any required security code, access code, or password that would permit access to an individual’s financial account, or medical information or health insurance information. The law does not apply to encrypted information, publicly available information, or information that is lawfully obtained from federal, state, or local government records. The law requires the disclosure of a breach of the security of the system to any resident of California whose unencrypted personal information was, or is reasonably believed to have been, acquired by an unauthorized person. The disclosure must be made in the most expedient time possible and without unreasonable delay, consistent with the legitimate needs of law enforcement or any measures necessary to determine the scope of the breach and restore the reasonable integrity of the data system. The disclosure may be made by written notice, electronic notice, or substitute notice, as specified by the law. The law also requires any person or business that maintains computerized data that includes personal information that the person or business does not own to notify the owner or licensee of the information of any breach of the security of the data immediately following discovery, if the personal information was, or is reasonably believed to have been, acquired by an unauthorized person. The law also authorizes a civil action for damages by a customer injured by a violation of the law and provides that the rights and remedies available under the law are cumulative to each other and to any other rights and remedies available under law. References:
California Senate Bill 1386 (2002)
California SB 1386: For the Love of Privacy
What Is the California Security Breach Information Act?
California Raises the Bar on Data Security and Privacy
