With the value of personal data increasing in the digital era, safeguarding consumers’ privacy is critical. Since the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) went into force, companies must abide by strict guidelines to protect customer privacy and security. In this blog, we’ll go into detail on what CPRA compliance means, what it requires, how to comply, what fines there are for not complying, and how GCK Accounting can help your company manage these challenges.
What is CPRA?
The California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) is a state law that aims to improve consumer privacy rights and increase openness about how businesses gather, utilize, and share personal information. It strengthens data protection protections by adding additional elements and expanding upon the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).
Requirements for CPRA Compliance
Businesses must adhere to several essential CPRA criteria to protect customer data and comply with the law. Among these prerequisites are:
- Enhanced Consumer Rights: The CPRA gives customers more rights, such as correcting inaccurate personal information and preventing companies from exploiting sensitive personal data. These rights encourage trust between companies and clients by giving consumers more control over their data. Robust mechanisms for data processing and administration and meticulous attention to detail are necessary to ensure compliance with these rights.
- Sensitive Personal Information: The CPRA presents “sensitive personal information,” encompassing driver’s license numbers, Social Security numbers, and exact geolocation data. Companies must take extra precautions when handling sensitive data and have customers’ express consent before processing it. This requirement necessitates thoroughly reviewing data collection practices and implementing enhanced security measures to protect sensitive information from unauthorized access or disclosure.
- Data minimization: Companies must only gather, utilize, and keep as much personal data as is required for the uses made known to customers. By encouraging companies to take a more targeted approach to data collecting and processing, the data reduction principle lowers the risk of data breaches and improves customer privacy. Implementing data reduction techniques involves using technology to automate data deletion processes, changing privacy rules, and modifying data gathering procedures.
- Third-Party Audits: To ensure compliance with the law, CPRA requires companies engaging in high-risk data processing operations to submit to periodic independent audits. These audits are essential for guaranteeing transparency and accountability in data processing procedures. Companies need to hire certified auditors to thoroughly evaluate their data processing activities, identify areas of non-compliance, and implement remedial measures to address deficiencies.
Steps to Achieve CPRA Compliance
A methodical strategy for evaluating your company’s procedures, making the required adjustments, and training staff members are required to achieve CPRA compliance. To guarantee compliance, follow these essential steps:
- Assess your CPRA applicability
Ascertain whether your company is subject to the CPRA based on variables such as annual revenue, the amount of customer data processed, and the type of business operation. Analyze your data processing operation in depth to find any possible CPRA compliance gaps. - Inventory and categorize the data you collect
Make a thorough inventory of all the personal data you gather, keep, and distribute. Sort this data into categories according to its sensitivity and significance to CPRA observance. Take action to remedy any gaps or discrepancies in your data inventory. - Develop and update privacy policies
Examine and update your privacy policies to comply with the CPRA standards. Ensure that data-gathering procedures, processing goals, and customer rights are transparent. Provide customers with easily comprehensible information regarding their rights under the CPRA and how their personal information is gathered, utilized, and shared. - Implement mechanisms for consumer data requests
Provide processes for responding to customer requests to see, amend, or remove their data. Assign someone to handle these inquiries and make sure they get back to you on time. Establish procedures and mechanisms that make it easier for customers to exercise their rights and monitor requests to ensure the CPRA’s obligations are followed. - Strengthen data security measures
Improve data security procedures to guard against misuse, disclosure, and illegal access to personal data. To reduce threats, put access controls, encryption, and frequent security audits into place. To reduce the risk of data breaches, provide clear instructions for managing sensitive information and train staff on security best practices. - Train employees on CPRA requirements
Inform staff members of their obligations and tasks in maintaining CPRA compliance. Provide instruction on handling customer inquiries, security events, and data protection standards. Stress the importance of protecting customer privacy and following CPRA guidelines to encourage a compliance culture inside your company.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
There are severe consequences for breaking the CPRA, including fines of up to $7,500 for each infraction. Businesses may also be subject to civil litigation and reputational harm due to data breaches or privacy violations. To prevent these possible repercussions, organizations must assign resources to maintain continuous compliance and take CPRA compliance seriously.
Get Your Free CPRA Compliance Consultation with GCK Accounting
For organizations, navigating the CPRA compliance intricacies can be intimidating. To assist you in comprehending your CPRA responsibilities and putting into practice efficient compliance measures, GCK Accounting provides CPA in Las Vegas, CPA in Denver, Accounting Services, professional advice, and consulting services. Take the first step in guaranteeing customer data security and privacy by contacting us today for a free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The CPRA builds upon the foundation laid by the CCPA and introduces additional requirements to enhance consumer privacy rights and strengthen data protection measures.
The CPRA applies to businesses that collect personal information from California residents and meet certain criteria related to revenue, data processing volume, and business operations.
The CPRA imposes stricter requirements on collecting, using, and sharing personal information, including enhanced consumer rights, data minimization principles, and mandatory third-party audits.
A risk assessment under CPRA involves evaluating the potential risks and vulnerabilities associated with data processing activities and implementing measures to mitigate these risks.
The CPRA is fully enforceable now. Businesses should take proactive steps to achieve compliance and avoid penalties and legal liabilities.