California enacts law requiring browsers to offer a one-click data privacy opt-out

California has enacted a groundbreaking privacy law, the California Opt Me Out Act (AB 566), which mandates web browsers to provide users an easy, one-click option to opt out of the sale or sharing of their personal data. This law builds on the 2018 California Consumer Privacy Act but vastly improves usability by requiring browsers to support opt-out preference signals (OOPS), allowing consumers to universally communicate their data privacy preferences with a single action. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, and applies to browsers used by California residents, empowering them to protect their browsing history, location data, purchase history, and personal interests from being sold or shared with third parties. This new system removes the previous need for users to opt out on every individual website, addressing a significant barrier to exercising privacy rights. Alongside AB 566, other recently signed bills enhance transparency in data brokerage and simplify account cancellation on social media. Privacy advocates hail this law as a major step forward in consumer control over personal information in the digital age, though its success depends on effective enforcement and wide adoption by browsers and businesses.