The California Consumer Privacy Act: The ethos, similarities and differences vis-a-vis the General Data Protection Regulation and the road ahead in light of California Privacy Rights Act

Amidst the ongoing privacy concerns, legislations like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) have given individuals the insight into their personal data and a control thereof. These legislations, however, must not be viewed as impediment to business but as business enablers that ensure successful conduct of business while balancing the rights of the individuals vis-à-vis that of the businesses. This paper seeks to delve into the spirit and the most striking features of CCPA. The paper also aims to compare the GDPR and CCPA so as to ascertain the key similarities and key differences between the two. The paper finally attempts to trace the journey of global companies in the quest to achieve compliance before 1st January, 2020. As of today, businesses are faced with a peculiar circumstance. They have aligned their businesses in line with the GDPR and are now also required to align with the obligations under CCPA. The procedural aspect has the business taken by storm. To make matters complicated, businesses are now faced by the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) and the relevant compliances expected of them. The paper seeks to conclude with a roadmap for global businesses in such a factual matrix.