Page 25 - ARUBA TODAY

BUSINESS Thursday 9 augusT 2018
A25

New law may force small businesses to reveal data practices

NEW YORK (AP) — A Rhode to prevent a more stringent
Island software company proposed law from being
that sells primarily to busi- placed on the November
nesses is nonetheless mak- election ballot.
ing sure it complies with a Frank Samson hopes the
strict California law about California law will help pre-
consumers' privacy. vent what he sees as trou-
AVTECH Software is prepar- bling marketing tactics by
ing for what some say is the some in his industry, tak-
wave of the future: laws re- ing care of senior citizens.
quiring businesses to be up- When people inquire about
front with customers about senior care companies on-
how they use personal in- line, it's sometimes on sites
formation. California has al- run by brokers rather than
ready passed a law requir- care providers themselves.
ing businesses to disclose "It may be in the fine print,
what they do with people's or it may not be: We're
personal information and going to be taking your
giving consumers more info and sending it out to
control over how their data a bunch of people," says
is used — even the right to Samson, founder of Peta-
have it deleted from com- luma, California-based Se-
panies' computers. In this Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2018, photo Russell Benoit, of Dartmouth, Mass., marketing manager for nior Care Authority.
Privacy rights have gotten AVTECH Software, stands behind door of a server cabinet company's data center in Warren, R.I. That steers many would-
more attention since news Associated Press be clients to just a hand-
earlier this year that the ful of companies, he says,
data firm Cambridge Ana- though most of the compa- comply with consumer in- tion, including a toll-free and can mean seniors and
lytica improperly accessed ny's customers are business- quiries and requests. That phone number and an on- families get bombarded
Facebook user information. es, it expects it will increase may be an added cost of line form, and companies with calls while dealing with
New regulations also took its sales to consumers. thousands for small com- must also give consumers stressful situations.
effect in Europe. While it may yet face legal panies that don't have in- a copy of the information But many unknowns remain
For AVTECH, which makes challenges, the California house technology staffers they've collected. about the California law.
software to control building Consumer Privacy Act is and need software and Consumers also have the The state attorney general's
environmental issues, pre- set to take effect Jan. 1, consulting help. right to have their informa- office must write regulations
paring now makes sense 2020. It covers companies Under California's law, con- tion deleted from compa- to accompany several pro-
not only to lay the ground- that conduct business in sumers have the right to nies' computer systems, visions. There are inconsis-
work for future expansion, California and that fit one know what personal infor- and to opt out of having tencies between different
but to reassure customers of three categories: Those mation companies collect the information sold or sections of the law, and
increasingly uneasy about with revenue above $25 from them, why it's collect- shared. the Legislature would need
what happens to their per- million; those that collect ed and who the businesses The law was modeled to correct them, says Mark
sonal information. or receive the personal share, transfer or sell it to. on the European Union's Brennan, an attorney with
"People will look at who information of 50,000 or That information includes General Data Protection Hogan Lovells in Washing-
they're dealing with and more California consumers, names, addresses, email Regulation, which took ef- ton, D.C., who specializes in
who they're making pur- households or electronic addresses, browsing histo- fect May 25. The California technology and consumer
chases from," says Russell devices; and those who ries, purchasing histories, Legislature passed its law protection laws.q
Benoit, marketing manager get at least half their rev- professional or employ-
for the Warren, Rhode Is- enue from selling personal ment information, educa-
land-based company. information. tional records and infor- Salina Cerca 23-i
Aware that California was Although many small busi- mation about travel from
likely to enact a data law, nesses may be exempt, GPS apps and programs. 4 Bedroom
AVTECH began reviewing those subject to the law Companies must give con- 3 bathroom
how it handles customer will have to ensure their sumers at least two ways apt in the back
information last year. Al- systems and websites can to find out their informa- in front of Marriott
Price $ 1.4 million
Ford celebrates production of

10 million Mustang sports cars

By MIKE HOUSEHOLDER A parade of Mustangs from out, "10,000,000." The com-
Associated Press 1964 to the present day mas were represented by
FLAT ROCK, Mich. (AP) — rolled into the HQ's park- the first Mustang produced
Ford Motor Co. marked the ing lot in Dearborn, Michi- and the 10 millionth, a 2019
production of the 10 mil- gan, Wednesday morning Wimbledon White GT V8 six-
lionth Mustang with cele- before making the 30-min- speed manual convertible.
brations at the automaker's ute drive — complete with Mustang is the best-selling
headquarters and at the police escort — to the Flat sports car of the last 50
Flat Rock Assembly Plant Rock complex. There, the years in the U.S. and the
where the iconic sports car cars were organized into a world's top-selling sports car
is made. configuration that spelled for three years in a row.q