Oakland Data Protection Lawyers

Oakland has led the way in data protection, strengthening privacy laws as companies collect more personal information. Weak data security and poor governance have contributed to rising data breaches and enforcement actions.

At Matern Law Group, our Oakland data protection lawyers pursue legal action against companies that fail to comply with California privacy laws and safeguard sensitive information.

California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)

The CCPA, effective as of January 2020, grants Oakland consumers new rights regarding their personal information and imposes data protection obligations on certain businesses.

Under the CCPA, consumers have the following rights:

• Right to Know: Oakland consumers can request to know what personal information a business has collected about them and how it is used and shared.
• Right to Delete: Oakland consumers can request the deletion of their personal information held by businesses.
• Right to Opt-Out: Oakland consumers can direct businesses not to sell their personal information.
• Non-Discrimination: Businesses cannot discriminate against Oakland consumers who exercise their CCPA rights.

When companies fail to honor these rights, our Oakland data protection lawyers evaluate whether litigation or other legal remedies are appropriate.

California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA)

The tCPRA, approved in November 2020 and fully enforceable as of July 2023, expands and strengthens the CCPA. It increases corporate governance requirements and heightens expectations around security and privacy compliance.

New protections include:

• Right to Correction: Consumers may request correction of inaccurate personal information.
• Right to Limit: Consumers may restrict how sensitive personal data is used or disclosed beyond essential business purposes.
• Expansion of Definitions: The CPRA broadens what qualifies as “selling” data to include sharing for behavioral advertising.

Our attorneys look at whether failures in security controls or privacy practices contributed to violations that justify litigation under cybersecurity law.

Oakland Employee Data Protection

Under the CCPA, and continuing with the CPRA, there are specific provisions for Oakland employee data:

• Notice at Collection: Employers must provide notice at or before data collection.
• Extended Rights: Employees gain access, correction, and deletion rights under certain conditions.

When employee information is exposed due to weak security, poor internal controls, or a data breach, our attorneys assess whether affected workers have legal claims under California data protection statutes.

Enforcement and Compliance

The CPRA established the California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA), which is responsible for enforcing California’s privacy framework and investigating violations involving California data.

Consumers also have a limited private right of action when certain unencrypted or sensitive information is compromised in a data breach. Our cybersecurity lawyers evaluate whether data breaches expose companies to regulatory penalties, civil litigation, or both.

How Our Data Privacy Lawyers Can Help

Our attorneys investigate data protection failures, review security practices, and evaluate legal options when privacy rights are compromised. As experienced data security attorneys, we pursue strategic litigation to hold companies accountable and enforce compliance. If your information was exposed due to inadequate data security, our team can help you understand your legal rights.