Consumer Protection

Law makes it simpler to manage, cancel subscriptions 

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued a consumer alert to remind consumers and businesses that California’s Automatic Renewal Law (Schiavo, 2024) gives consumers important rights when it comes to the renewal of subscription-based services. The law was recently amended, effective July 1, 2025, to make it stronger. 

“That mysterious $7.99 appearing on your credit card bill every month just got easier to identify — and cancel. Under California’s Automatic Renewal Law, businesses must get explicit consent before charging consumers and must give consumers a clear and straightforward method for cancelling unwanted subscriptions,” said Attorney General Bonta. “With the increasing number of online businesses offering subscriptions, it is important to ensure that businesses are acting transparently and that consumers have the power to manage and cancel these subscriptions more easily.”

California’s Automatic Renewal Law applies to consumer services, subscriptions, and plans that continue until the consumer cancels them or that automatically renew. It also applies to arrangements where a consumer receives a free service or product for a “free trial” or limited period and then is charged unless the consumer cancels before the trial period ends.  

Under the law:

• A business must get a consumer’s express affirmative consent to auto-renewal or continuous-service terms. 
• If a subscription, plan, or other service has an initial term of one year or longer that automatically renews, the business must give the consumer notice of the automatic renewal at least 15 days but no more than 45 days before renewal. The notice must include the length and any additional terms of the renewal period, the amount or range of charges, the frequency of charges, and how to cancel.
• For free or discounted trial periods lasting more than 31 days as part of an auto-renewal or continuous-service offer, the business must give the consumer notice of the automatic renewal at least three days but no more than 21 days before the free or discounted period expires. The notice must include the length and any additional terms of the renewal period, the amount or range of charges, the frequency of charges, and how to cancel.
• If a consumer accepts a change in the fee for an existing auto-renewal or continuous-service offer, the business must give the consumer notice at least seven days but no more than 30 days before the fee change takes effect. The notice must include instructions on how to cancel.
• A business must give consumers an annual reminder about their auto-renewal or continuous-service plan. The annual reminder must be sent using the same method of communication as used to enroll in the plan or the method that the consumer generally interacts with the business. The annual reminder must identify the product or service, the frequency and amount of charges, and how a consumer can cancel.
• A business offering an auto-renewal or continuous-service plan must give consumers information on how to cancel. Consumers must be able to cancel using the same method of communication as used to enroll in the plan or the method that the consumer generally interacts with the business. A business must offer a toll-free phone number, email address, or other easy-to-use cancellation method.
• If a consumer enrolled in an auto-renewal or continuous-service plan online, they must be able to cancel it online at will, and the business cannot engage in any steps that obstruct or delay consumer’s ability to cancel immediately.

When and how these requirements may be fulfilled vary. For more information, including details and other requirements, please see the Automatic Renewal Law here. The Automatic Renewal Law is enforced by the Attorney General’s Office, and by District and City attorneys across the state, and it is in addition to the protections offered by other California laws that protect consumers against unlawful, unfair, and deceptive practices, including those that take the form of dark patterns or otherwise interfere with consumer choice.  

Consumers who believe their rights have been violated are encouraged to file a complaint at oag.ca.gov/report.

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today alerted consumers of ongoing text-based scam activity targeting California taxpayers. Tax fraud scams are a part of a larger universe of government imposter scams, which occur when a person claims to be a government employee in order to obtain a victim’s personal information or for financial gain. These fraudulent texts claim to come from the State of California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) and ask consumers to provide personal information in order to receive their so-called tax refund. In today’s alert, Attorney General Bonta provides Californians with tips to avoid falling victim to tax fraud scams like this one and other government imposter scams. Taxpayers should be especially cautious with their tax, bank account, credit card, and other personal information. 

“Californians: Be on alert for texts from seemingly official government agencies that seem fishy — they might indeed be phishing scams designed to trick you out of your hard-earned money,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “Bad actors are getting more sophisticated and show little signs of slowing. I urge Californians to not click on links in texts asking consumers for personal information, visit only official websites, and talk to friends and family who may be unaware of these dangers."

“Sadly, FTB and other California agencies constantly battle bad actors attempting to steal your money. These scammers may impersonate tax agency representatives to steal your personal information," said State Controller and FTB Chair Malia M. Cohen. "If you ever have doubts about the authenticity of a text, email, or phone call claiming to be from FTB, IRS, or any other government agency, contact the agency directly to verify whether there’s an issue that requires your attention.” 

FTB advises Californians not to reply to suspicious text messages, download attachments, or click on links in texts or emails if they are unsure of their authenticity. Verify any suspicious messages by contacting the agency identified directly and visiting official pages only. View FTB’s text messaging page to verify when FTB texts and what information they send. For more information, please see here.

Text-Based Scams 

If you receive a suspicious or unsolicited text message claiming to be from FTB, do not respond or click on any links, as the text may be a phishing scam. Text messaging is particularly dangerous because consumers might hurriedly click on a link and begin entering a password, not realizing that the link is phony and their password is being recorded. These texts may ask for:

• Usernames
• Passwords
• Payment
• Credit and debit card numbers
• Banking information
• PINs
• Social security number  

Other Tax Fraud Scams

Tax-related scams take on various forms and show up every year, especially around tax season. The most common tax-related scams include: 

• Fake phone calls demanding money: Scammers will call you claiming that they are from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or the FTB and say that you owe them money. The scammer will harass you and use high-pressure tactics claiming that you will be arrested, deported, or will lose your driver’s license if you don’t pay right now. Sometimes the scammer will even know your Social Security number or fake the caller ID so that it looks like they are calling from the IRS or FTB. Scammers may offer to provide “documentation” or “evidence,” or use the name of a real government official. If a government agency calls you and asks for financial or personal information, hang up and go to the agency’s official website (which should be a .gov website) and call them directly. Government officials will not threaten you with arrest or legal action in exchange for immediate payment. They will not promise to increase your benefits or resolve an issue in exchange for a fee or transfer of funds to a protected account.
• Fake emails: Scammers will send out "phishing" emails that look like they are from the IRS or FTB and claim that you either owe money or are due a refund. They will include links to official-looking websites and ask for either money outright or personal information that will allow them to steal your identity.
• Stolen refunds: Identity thieves will use stolen personal information to file false tax returns in your name and steal your refunds. Scammers will usually file early in the tax season, before you get to it. You won’t learn about the theft until you try to file your taxes.  

Protect Yourself from Tax Fraud Scams

• Protect your personal information: Never provide personal information, such as your Social Security number or bank account information, to someone you do not know.
• Be wary of unsolicited communication: As a rule of thumb, real government officials will never ask for payment in the form of gift cards, prepaid debit cards, wire transfers, Internet currency, or by mailing cash.
• Hang up the phone! While in some cases the IRS or FTB may call a person who owes taxes, the agencies only do so after they have tried to contact you by mail. If you suspect a scam call, immediately hang up or do not respond. The longer you stay on the line, the more likely you are to fall victim to a scam.
• Use a strong password: When preparing your tax return for electronic filing, be sure to use a unique strong password for your online filing accounts. A strong password is eight or more characters, including letters, numbers, and symbols. Use a unique password for each of your tax filing accounts.
• Never sign a blank return: Do not use a tax preparer who asks you to sign a blank tax form.
• Talk to friends and family: Always seek a second opinion from your friends and family.

If you suspect you have been a victim of a tax-related scam, report the scam and any losses to the Internal Revenue Service and/or the California Franchise Tax Board. For more information and resources on tax fraud and other government imposter scams, visit our website at oag.ca.gov/consumers/general/taxes.

Letters seek to open line of communication with companies, understand how they are protecting the public

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today joined 47 attorneys general in sending letters to search platform and payment platform operators that indirectly facilitate the creation and distribution of nonconsensual deepfake pornography. Deepfakes are videos, pictures, or audio clips made with artificial intelligence (AI) to look real. The letters seek to open lines of communication with these companies, understand what actions they are taking to limit the creation and sharing of this content, and urge the companies to commit to take further action to limit the spread of this harmful content.

“Tools that allow people to generate intimate images and videos of real people without their consent can cause significant harm to the public — particularly to women and girls. These images have been used to bully, harass, and exploit people all over the world,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Today, I joined a coalition of attorneys general in sending letters to companies that are indirectly part of the ecosystem that enables the distribution of this material, asking them to be part of the solution in preventing the dissemination of deepfakes. As technology rapidly evolves, I am committed to engaging in conversations with industries to ensure we’re all working together to guide AI to the positive potential that will benefit us — not hurt us.”

Nonconsensual deepfake pornography is a growing problem that poses significant harms to the public. It has been used to embarrass, intimidate, and exploit people around the world. As this technology becomes more powerful and creates more potential for harm, businesses that help people search for, create, and distribute this content need to be aware of their role in propagating this content and work to prevent its spread. For example, internet search providers may take steps to filter their search results to avoid sharing links to tools promoting the creation and distribution of deepfake pornography, and payment providers may take steps to ensure they do not facilitate payments to parties selling access to deepfake pornography creation tools. In the letters today, the attorneys general respectfully request more information from companies about their efforts to restrict or block nonconsensual deepfake pornography content and ask for the companies’ commitment to take further action to avoid being complicit in the creation and spread of this material. 

Attorney General Bonta is committed to protecting Californians by responding to emerging and rapidly evolving technology. 

This week, Attorney General Bonta sent a letter to 12 of the top AI companies, after reports of sexually inappropriate interactions between AI chatbots and children, making it clear that companies who make choices that lead their technology to harm children will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.

Earlier this year, Attorney General Bonta issued two legal advisories, reminding consumers of their rights, and advising businesses and healthcare entities who develop, sell, or use AI about their obligations under California law. Although AI technology is developing rapidly, entities must comply with existing California laws. The legal advisories can be found here, and here. In the last few months, Attorney General Bonta sent multiple letters (here and here) to Congressional leaders strongly opposing a 10-year ban on states from enforcing any state law or regulation addressing AI and automated decision-making systems, arguing the rapidly evolving nature of AI technology demands the flexibility and responsiveness that states can provide and urging lawmakers to remove the provision. The ban was rejected in July. 

In 2024, Attorney General Bonta sent a comment letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) related to the potential impact of emerging AI technology on efforts to protect consumers from illegal robocalls or robotexts. In 2023, Attorney General Bonta joined a bipartisan coalition of 54 states and territories in sending a letter to Congressional leaders calling for the creation of an expert commission to study how AI can and is being used to exploit children through child sexual abuse material (CSAM). 

In sending today's letters, Attorney General Bonta joins the attorneys general of Vermont, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Utah, Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, U.S. Virgin Islands, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Copies of the letters can be found here and here. 

Continues fighting on all fronts for businesses and consumers 

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today filed an amicus brief in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, a lawsuit challenging the tariffs President Trump imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). In April, Attorney General Bonta and Governor Newsom filed a lawsuit challenging President Trump’s unlawful use of power to levy tariffs via over a dozen executive orders under IEEPA. In the brief filed today in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, Attorney General Bonta and Governor Newsom argue that the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia was correct in holding that the Trump Administration’s interpretation of its authority under IEEPA is incorrect, that IEEPA’s language does not provide the authority to impose tariffs, and that President Trump’s IEEPA tariffs are unlawful (and that, much like California’s own case, the plaintiffs’ case was properly filed in district court, not the Court of International Trade). The brief urges the Court of Appeals to affirm the District Court’s decision.

“As the country braces for continuous chaos from President Trump’s illegal tariffs, standing united to fight for American consumers and businesses is more important than ever,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Today, I urge the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to affirm the District Court’s decision that President Trump’s chaotic tariffs are unlawful — not one word in the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the Trump Administration’s vehicle for these tariffs, authorizes tariffs. These illegal tariffs will affect everything from the cost of essential household items like food and toilet paper to the cost of housing. The tariff chaos is a man-made crisis, and California families and industries will pay the price.”

The case in question involves two family-owned educational-toy companies challenging the Trump Administration’s tariffs under IEEPA. In May, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia denied the Trump Administration’s motion to transfer the case to the Court of International Trade and instead retained jurisdiction, held that IEEPA does not authorize tariffs and that the Trump Administration’s IEEPA tariffs were unlawful, and granted the plaintiffs’ motion for an injunction. In the brief, Attorney General Bonta agrees and argues that the Court of Appeals should affirm the District Court’s well-reasoned decision. 

Attorney General Bonta is committed to challenging the illegal tariffs that threaten California jobs, businesses, and consumers and has held roundtables in San Francisco and Los Angeles to learn about the impact of tariffs on California industry.

On April 16, Attorney General Bonta and Governor Newsom filed a lawsuit challenging President Trump’s unlawful use of IEEPA to impose tariffs without the consent of Congress. In May, California filed a motion for a preliminary injunction with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California to stop the Trump Administration’s illegal tariffs while litigation in its case proceeds and filed an amicus brief in the Court of International Trade in Oregon v. Trump, another case also challenging President Trump’s illegal imposition of tariffs. In June, a judge granted California's request for dismissal to allow the state to appeal its case challenging the Trump Administration’s illegal tariffs after the Administration asked that the case be transferred to the Court of International Trade — a motion that California opposed. The dismissal kept the case in California and allowed California to appeal to the Ninth Circuit. California’s case remains ongoing.

A copy of the amicus brief can be found here.

Does an offer seem too good to be true? Take a tactical pause to evaluate  

OAKLAND — In recognition of Military Consumer Month, Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued a consumer alert to help protect California service members, veterans, and their family members from targeted common scams and fraud. The military community and their families are often targets for predatory scammers: According to the Federal Trade Commission, military consumers nationwide reported over 99,400 fraud complaints last year — an increase from 2023’s approximately 93,000 complaints — including 44,587 imposter scams that reportedly cost them and their families over $199 million.  

“More and more often, service members, veterans, and their families are targets for predatory scammers promising everything from home loans to jobs, and continuing education. This is absolutely unacceptable. As part of our commitment to protect those who protect us, my office will continue to bring the full force of the law against those who seek to exploit California’s military community,” said Attorney General Bonta. “If you have fallen victim to a scam or suspect fraudulent activity, get help and share your story so that we can help your fellow service members. You can report fraud to your local military or civilian law enforcement agency, or to the California Department of Justice at oag.ca.gov/report.”

Why is the Military Community Targeted? 

Military service members, veterans, and their families are frequently targeted by scammers who want access to their pay and benefits, and who know that military members will often pay even fraudulent or over-stated debts to avoid security clearance issues or other disruptions to their military careers. In addition, the camaraderie that unites the military community is often exploited by impostors who claim to be veterans in attempts to perpetrate scams or access personal information for fraudulent purposes.   

Common Scams Targeting the Military Community:

Scammers use a variety of tactics to gain trust. Protect yourself by staying up to date on common military- and veteran-targeted scams. Beware of the following: 

• Charity Scams: Just because a charity includes the word “veteran” in its name doesn’t mean that veterans are members of the group, or that veterans or their families will benefit from a donation. Scammers will use names that sound legitimate or those that mimic the names of well-known charities to create confusion. Take the time to make an informed decision and be wary of aggressive solicitations. Go to oag.ca.gov/charities, under the Resources & Tools section, and click on Registry Verification Search. If a charity is not listed, it should not be soliciting funds in California. If it is listed, you can view its financial reports, including the IRS Form 990 that the charity is required to file with DOJ's Registry of Charitable Trusts.
• Predatory Schools: The GI Bill and other military education programs offer you the chance to attend school and plan for your future, but for-profit schools sometimes target service members and veterans with false promises. Slow down and take the time you need to make the right decision. Predatory schools often use high-pressure sales tactics to try to get you to sign up. It’s important to ask for information about the programs, such as graduation rates, job placement, and graduate salary information. Offers that seem too good to be true generally are. Further, don't forget that educational opportunities at the California Community Colleges, California State University, and University of California may be available to you. 
• Home Loan Scams: Be aware of scammers that — through phone calls or fraudulent mailers — claim to be affiliated with the government, the Department of Veterans Affairs, or your home loan servicer. These fraudsters may attempt to convince you to agree to loan modifications, refinance your home, or make payments on your loans. Be cautious of any individual or lender that contacts you and asks you to pay fees upfront before receiving any services; tells you to cancel your mortgage payment and resend the funds elsewhere; tells you to make payments to someone other than your current loan servicer; or pressures you to sign papers you haven’t had a chance to read thoroughly or that you don’t understand — including asking you to sign over the title to your property. 
• Identity Theft and Fraud: Some scammers will pretend to be from the Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs, or other official organizations in order to get your personal information so that they can commit identity theft or fraud. Before you provide any information, always make sure a request is coming from an official organization by doing a quick search on the internet or consulting a trusted source to get the organization’s real contact information. Never trust the contact information given by the person that is asking for your personal information, as scammers often give out fake contact information. Be wary of letters and emails that have misspellings, look unprofessional, or send you to a non-government website for information or action, as these are almost always fake. Lastly, never give out your Social Security number to receive military or veteran discounts. Scammers often promise military or veteran discounts in order to obtain personal information. 
• Job Scams: Service members looking for new career opportunities after leaving service are a target for scammers posting fictitious job listings with the goal of stealing their personal information and finances. Avoid becoming a victim of job scams by conducting thorough research on the company. Additionally, stick to well-known job search platforms and government career websites when looking for job opportunities. Remember, legitimate employers will never require you to pay fees for applications, interviews, or background checks. You should also look out for fake check scams, which occur when a scammer posing as an employer sends you a counterfeit check to deposit into your account. The scammer will then ask you to send a portion of the funds back to them or a third party, while letting you keep some as payment. Eventually, the bank reverses the fake check, leaving you stuck paying the money back to the bank. If something feels off or suspicious during the job search, trust your instincts and end communication immediately.
• Pension Scams: Veterans ages 65 and over are targeted by scam financial advisers who try to persuade senior veterans to buy costly annuities or transfer their assets into trusts, or pay unnecessary and illegal fees for help with a veterans pension application. These "advisers" claim to help veterans qualify for Aid and Attendance or other veterans benefits, but may cause you to lose eligibility or access to pension, disability, or healthcare benefits. If you are interested in Aid and Attendance or other veterans benefits, you can get free help from your County Veterans Service Office here.
• Affinity Fraud: Affinity scams target members of identifiable groups, including the military. The perpetrators are — or pretend to be — members of the targeted group, and use sales pitches that rely on group trust and loyalty. In the military community, this includes exploiting the trust that service members have for their fellow service members, and for veterans who previously served. Don't make a significant purchase, or an investment decision, based on the salesperson's supposed military service, or the claim that a business is military-friendly or endorsed by the Armed Forces. Take a tactical pause, and shop around for the best deal.
• Debt Collection and Illegal Threats: Debt collectors may try to trick or scare service members into making payments on debts. It is illegal for debt collectors to do any of the following: revoke your security clearance; contact your command in order to collect a debt (unless they have your consent, given after the debt came due, to do so); discipline or demote you; or garnish your pay. If a debt collector is trying to collect a debt that you do not owe or have already paid, dispute the debt in writing. Tell the debt collector why you do not owe the debt, include copies of any evidence you have, and mail this dispute to the debt collector using registered mail so that you have proof that the collector received it — and make sure to keep copies of everything for yourself. If you dispute the debt within 30 days after the collector first contacted you, the collector must stop collection until it shows you written proof of the debt.
• Rental Housing Scams: These scams target military personnel looking for housing near a base, especially prevalent during the Permanent Change of Station season. Scammers pretend to be real estate agents and post fake ads for rental properties on websites, sometimes promising military discounts and other incentives in order to get service members to send them money for fees and deposits upfront. If someone insists on receiving money or other payments before a property has been seen, it is likely a rental scam. Avoid wiring money to reserve apartments, and use your installation housing office or established property management companies to locate potential housing. 
• Predatory Auto Sales and Financing: Car dealers located near military bases may try to lure service members with promises of special deals for military personnel. Often, these so-called deals conceal the terms of purchase for the vehicle and result in the service member drastically overpaying for both the vehicle and the cost of financing. For example, dealers may insist that military personnel will not qualify for financing unless they purchase overpriced and unnecessary add-ons. Other times, the dealer may tell a service member who just purchased a car that the initial financing fell through and insist on renegotiating for worse terms. You should not rely on oral promises, nor feel pressured to enter into any purchase, without first reading and understanding the contract. If you are looking to purchase a car, you should explore all of your options for financing — including by contacting your bank or credit union — before making a purchase.  

Protect Yourself from Scams:  

• Bring a battle buddy when making big decisions, and take a tactical pause: Take your time with big decisions and get advice. A business that pressures you to make a quick decision or to not talk with your family, friends, a military financial counselor, or an officer or NCO that you trust may be out to scam you.
• Take advantage of free annual credit reports: You are entitled to one free credit report every year from each of the three national credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Your credit history contains information from financial institutions, utilities, landlords, insurers, and others. By checking your credit reports at least once a year, you can identify signs of identity theft, as well errors in your report that could be raising the cost of your credit. Order your free annual credit reports by phone, toll-free, at 1-877-322-8228, or online at www.annualcreditreport.com.
• Place a Fraud Alert: If your identity is stolen, put a fraud alert on your credit report by contacting the three main credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Also, consider requesting a credit freeze, which will restrict access to your credit file, making it difficult for identity thieves to open new accounts in your name. Report identity theft right away and get a recovery plan at identitytheft.gov. Additionally, file a police report with your local sheriff or police department and keep a copy for your records.
• Report Suspicious Activity: Never give out personal information to a lender or servicer that contacts you out of the blue. If you are feeling unsure, hang up and call your loan servicer directly at the number that is listed on your mortgage statement. Report suspicious activity to the Office of the Attorney General at oag.ca.gov/report and file a complaint with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
• Protect your online information and accounts with strong passwords: Protect yourself by using different, unique passwords for each of your online accounts. Make sure that the passwords you use are at least eight characters, including a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols.
• Check your credit card bills and bank statements often: Look for unauthorized charges, withdrawals, or unexpected bills, and report irregular activity to your bank as soon as you see it. If you notice that a bill didn’t arrive on time, it may mean that someone has changed the contact information on your account in order to hide fraudulent charges. Don't share personal information: Be careful about what personal information you share, such as your address or financial information.
• Sign up for the Enhanced Homeowner Notification Program: If you reside in Los Angeles County, you may sign up to receive mailed copies of documents recorded against your home, allowing you to review recorded real estate documents so you are aware of actions taken against your property.

If you believe you have been the victim or target of a scam, immediately contact your local police department or reach out to your base legal office. For the legal office’s contact information, ask your command or visit to legalassistance.law.af.mil/. California National Guard personnel can also obtain legal help at calguard.ca.gov. You may also file a complaint with the Office of the Attorney General at oag.ca.gov/report. For additional information on military-targeted scams, visit our website at oag.ca.gov/consumers/general/military.

Settlement signals the steadfast commitment of California and its state partners to the robust enforcement of worker and consumer protection laws

SAN FRANCISCO — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced a settlement with HCA Healthcare, Inc. and Health Trust Workforce Solutions, LLC (together, HCA), resolving allegations that HCA unlawfully required entry-level nurse employees to repay the cost of a mandatory training program if they did not remain employed with the company for two years. HCA is one of the nation’s largest hospital systems and has several hospitals in northern and southern California. Today’s settlement is the result of a years-long investigation by Attorney General Bonta and the attorneys general of Colorado and Nevada, working in partnership with the Biden Administration’s Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The states’ investigation found that HCA violated California employment and consumer protection laws as well as the federal consumer financial protection laws by using training repayment agreement provisions (TRAPs) in nurses’ employment contracts. These TRAPs are a form of employer-driven debt, or debt obligations incurred by individuals through employment arrangements.

“All too often, employer-driven debt forces workers to remain in jobs that they would otherwise leave. That’s not just wrong; it’s illegal under state and federal law. Workers must be able to pursue better pay and better working conditions — not be trapped by debt that their employer makes them take out,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “I’m grateful to my fellow attorneys general in Colorado and Nevada for their partnership. With today’s settlement, we are taking a stand for workers in our states by holding HCA Healthcare accountable — ensuring that all affected nurses are made whole financially, that the company pays a penalty for its wrongdoing, and that the company is subject to strong injunctive terms to deter future misconduct.” 

“California Nurses Association and our national union, National Nurses United, want to thank Attorney General Bonta for his leadership in addressing this growing trend of employers, such as HCA, using debt repayment contracts to lock nurses and other workers into jobs,” said Sandy Reding, RN and a president of the California Nurses Association. “HCA, the largest for-profit hospital system in the country, has a shameful track record of using predatory stay-or-pay contracts, or Training Repayment Agreement Provisions (TRAPS), which handcuff nurses to our employers through the threat of serious financial consequences or ruin. No nurses and no other workers should be locked into a job under the weight of debt to their employer.”

“The Attorney General has found that HCA’s StaRN scheme violated the law and exploited new nurses in the process. As the largest hospital system in the US, HCA should strive to make nursing a rewarding career, not punish new nurses by entrapping them in debt,” said Rosanna Mendez, Executive Director, SEIU 121RN. “Attorney General Bonta’s action demonstrates that he strongly supports California’s frontline healthcare workers, even when it means taking on a large and powerful corporation.”

“The StaRN program put new nurses under HCA’s thumb, harming nurses’ morale at a time when we need them the most,” said Leo Perez, President, SEIU 121RN. “HCA is notorious for prioritizing profit over employee well-being. We are hopeful that this settlement will encourage them to reevaluate those priorities.”

”We stand with Attorney General Bonta in sending a clear message: Nurses should never be forced into debt just to launch their careers,” said Charmaine S. Morales, RN, President of United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals. “As advocates who understand the real pressures nurses face, we support this settlement as a powerful step toward holding corporations accountable and protecting the dignity of our profession.”

As a condition of employment at an HCA hospital, HCA generally requires that entry-level nurse employees complete the Specialty Training Apprenticeship for Registered Nurses (StaRN) Residency Program. The company has advertised StaRN as an avenue for entry-level RNs to get the education and training they need to land their first nursing jobs in an acute-care hospital setting, although StaRN does not provide nurses with education or training necessary for licensure as an RN. Until the Spring of 2023, HCA required that RNs hired through the StaRN program at facilities in several states, including California, sign a TRAP agreement in their new-hire paperwork. The TRAPs purported to require nurses to repay a prorated portion of the StaRN “value” if they did not work for HCA for two years. If a nurse left HCA before the end of the two-year period, then the TRAP loan was typically sent to debt collection.

HCA imposed TRAPs on nurses who worked at their five hospitals in California: Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose; Regional Medical Center in San Jose; Los Robles Regional Medical Center in Thousand Oaks; Riverside Community Hospital in Riverside; and West Hills Hospital & Medical Center in West Hills (no longer under HCA ownership).

Under California’s settlement, HCA will:

• Pay approximately $83,000 to provide full restitution to California nurses who made payments on their TRAP debt to HCA.
• Be prohibited from imposing TRAPs on nurse employees and attempting to collect on the approximately $288,000 in outstanding TRAP debt incurred by California nurses who signed TRAPs with HCA.
• Pay $1,162,900 in penalties to California. 

HCA will pay a total of $2,900,000 in penalties under settlements filed in California, Colorado, and Nevada today. 

Employer-driven debt refers to debt incurred by individuals through employment arrangements. This can include arrangements where an employer provides training, equipment, or supplies to a worker, but requires the worker to reimburse the employer for these expenses if the worker leaves their job before a certain date. Employer-driven debt has grown not only in the healthcare industry but also in the trucking, aviation, and the retail and service industries, among others. However, California workers are protected by state law that restricts the use of employer-driven debt, as Attorney General Bonta highlighted in a legal alert issued in July 2023 and a consumer alert in October 2024. Workers who believe their rights have been violated are encouraged to file a complaint at oag.ca.gov/report. 

Attorney General Bonta is committed to ensuring California continues its vital work as a pillar of consumer protection enforcement and an outspoken advocate for robust federal protections. The settlement today comes on the heels of the 15th anniversary of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which was enacted in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis to protect consumers from abusive financial services practices. The Dodd-Frank Act also authorizes state attorneys general to enforce its provisions and thereby promote stability, accountability, and transparency in the United States financial system.

Attorney General Bonta proudly supports Assembly Bill 692 (AB 692, Kalra), co-sponsored by the California Nurses Association, which would prohibit employment contracts that require workers to pay their employers a debt if they leave their job, regardless of whether that worker was fired, laid off, or quit.

A copy of the complaint can be found here and a copy of the proposed judgment, subject to court approval, can be found here. 

Los californianos pueden enviar quejas o sugerencias relacionadas con la vivienda a housing@doj.ca.gov 

OAKLAND— El Fiscal General de California, Rob Bonta, emitió hoy una alerta al consumidor recordando a los californianos que es ilegal que los propietarios discriminen a los inquilinos, tomen represalias contra ellos o influyan en los inquilinos para que se muden amenazando con revelar el estatus migratorio de un inquilino a ICE o a las fuerzas del orden. Especialmente mientras la administración federal lleva a cabo su inhumana campaña de deportación masiva y crea una cultura de miedo y desconfianza, es crucial que los propietarios e inquilinos comprendan sus obligaciones y derechos según la ley de California. 

“Las familias de todo el país están experimentando miedo e incertidumbre como resultado de la agenda de inmigración inhumana del presidente Trump. Hoy, les recuerdo a los propietarios que es ilegal en California discriminar a los inquilinos o acosarlos o tomar represalias contra un inquilino al revelar su estatus migratorio a las autoridades”, dijo el Fiscal General Bonta. “Los inquilinos de California, sin importar su estatus migratorio, tienen derecho a una vivienda segura y a acceder a documentos de vivienda en un idioma que puedan entender. Usaré todo el poder de mi cargo para perseguir a quienes intentan aprovecharse de los inquilinos de California durante un momento ya de por sí difícil”.

La discriminación en materia de vivienda es ilegal en California. Es ilegal que los propietarios discriminen a los inquilinos por motivos de raza, origen nacional, orientación sexual, religión, identidad o expresión de género, estado de discapacidad, estado familiar, fuente de ingresos (incluida la asistencia para el alquiler, como los vales de la Sección 8), condición de veterano o ciertas otras características protegidas (Código de Gobierno § 12955).

Los proveedores de vivienda privada no pueden preguntar sobre el estatus migratorio o de ciudadanía de un inquilino o solicitante y no pueden discriminar en función del estatus migratorio, ciudadanía o idioma principal. Por ejemplo, los propietarios no pueden negarse a alquilar a un inquilino potencial, decir que un alquiler no está disponible para alquilar cuando sí lo está, cobrarle más alquiler a un inquilino, perseguir a un inquilino para desalojarlo o proporcionarle a un inquilino cláusulas de alquiler menos favorables en función de estas características (Código Civil § 1940.3(b); Código de Gobierno § 12955(d); Código Civil § 51).

Los propietarios no pueden acosar ni tomar represalias contra un inquilino al revelar su estatus migratorio a las fuerzas de seguridad (Código Civil §§ 1940.3(b), 1942.5). Los propietarios tampoco pueden amenazar con revelar el estatus migratorio de un inquilino para presionarlo a mudarse. (Código Civil § 1940.2).  En la mayoría de los casos, a los propietarios no se les permite preguntar a un inquilino o potencial inquilino su estatus migratorio o de ciudadanía.

Los inquilinos tienen derecho a documentos de vivienda que puedan entender. Según la ley de California, si los inquilinos se comunican principalmente en español, chino, tagalo, vietnamita o coreano con el propietario o administrador de la propiedad al solicitar un apartamento y firmar un contrato de arrendamiento, el propietario debe proporcionar al inquilino una traducción escrita del contrato de arrendamiento en ese idioma antes de que se firme el contrato de arrendamiento, siempre y cuando el contrato de arrendamiento sea por más de un mes. (Código Civil, § 1632(b)). Los documentos posteriores que realicen cambios sustanciales en el contrato de arrendamiento, como avisos de aumentos de alquiler o de tarifas, también deben traducirse. (Código Civil, § 1632(g)(1)).

Los propietarios que infrinjan estas leyes pueden verse obligados a pagar a los inquilinos por daños y perjuicios, sanciones y honorarios de abogados. Por ejemplo, un propietario que revele el estatus migratorio de un inquilino a cualquier autoridad de inmigración se le puede ordenar a pagar al inquilino una indemnización por daños y perjuicios equivalente a entre 6 y 12 veces el alquiler mensual (Código Civil § 1940.35(b)). Los inquilinos tienen una variedad de otros derechos y protecciones según la ley de California. Algunas ciudades y condados también tienen protecciones adicionales para los inquilinos, incluidas limitaciones a los desalojos y aumentos de alquiler. Para obtener más información, visitehttps://oag.ca.gov/tenants. 

Propietarios y autoridades de inmigración  

Si las autoridades de inmigración (ICE, por sus siglas en inglés) le exigen a un propietario que proporcione información sobre un inquilino, como la solicitud de alquiler u otros documentos del inquilino, el propietario puede solicitar que le muestren una orden judicial u otro poder. Los propietarios deben buscar asesoramiento legal de inmediato para determinar si deben cumplir con la solicitud y asegurarse de no infringir las leyes contra la discriminación y la privacidad de California. Los diferentes tipos de documentos que ICE puede presentar son los siguientes:

• Una orden administrativa de ICE o un aviso para comparecer a una audiencia de inmigración no le da a ICE poderes especiales para inspeccionar los registros de un propietario. Los propietarios deben buscar asesoramiento legal sobre cómo responder. Vea un ejemplo de orden administrativa de ICE y aviso de comparecencia aquí (consulte los Anexos B-D).
• Si ICE presenta una orden emitida por un tribunal federal u otra orden judicial firmada por un juez, los propietarios deben cumplir con prontitud y, cuando sea posible, buscar asesoramiento legal antes de responder. Vea un ejemplo de orden de un tribunal federal aquí (consulte los Anexos E y F).
• Los propietarios a quienes se les presente una citación para presentar documentos o pruebas deben buscar asesoramiento legal sobre cómo responder. Vea ejemplos de citaciones aquí (consulte los Anexos G y H). Obtenga más información sobre las citaciones y otros documentos utilizados para aplicar las medidas de control de inmigración aquí (véanse las páginas 17 a 19).
• Los propietarios no deben interferir físicamente con los oficiales de ICE cuando estos desempeñan sus funciones.

El Fiscal General Bonta se compromete a garantizar que se respeten los derechos de los inquilinos en California. El Fiscal General Bonta ha responsabilizado a los propietarios por violar las leyes de California en Bakersfield, Marysville y en todo California. El mes pasado, el Fiscal General Bonta demandó a un grupo de empresas de administración de propiedades y holdings inmobiliarios propiedad de Mike Nijjar y miembros de su familia. La familia Nijjar y sus empresas relacionadas poseen y administran más de 22,000 unidades de vivienda de alquiler en todo el estado, principalmente en vecindarios de bajos ingresos en los Condados de Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino y Kern, pero también se extienden hasta los Condados de Sacramento y San Joaquin. La demanda alega que las empresas de Nijjar violaron flagrantemente numerosas leyes de California al someter a los inquilinos a unidades inseguras, discriminar a los solicitantes con vales de vivienda de la Sección 8, cobrar de más el alquiler a algunos inquilinos, utilizar contratos de arrendamiento que engañan a los inquilinos sobre sus derechos legales y negarse a proporcionar traducciones al español de estos contratos de arrendamiento a pesar de solicitar de manera intencional inquilinos hispanohablantes. 

Es posible que los inquilinos conozcan las empresas de Nijjar por los nombres de sus empresas de administración de propiedades actuales y recientes: no solo PAMA Management, sino también I E Rental Homes, Bridge Management, Equity Management, Golden Management, Hightower Management, Legacy Management, Mobile Management, Pro Management y Regency Management. Se alienta a cualquier persona, incluidos inquilinos actuales o anteriores, que tenga información que pueda ser relevante para este caso a que comparta sus historias con nuestra oficina en oag.ca.gov/report. Para obtener más información sobre sus derechos como inquilino, visite aquí.  

Los californianos que enfrentan un desalojo o creen que su propietario ha violado sus derechos como inquilinos deben buscar ayuda legal de inmediato. Si no puede pagar un abogado, podría calificar para recibir asistencia legal gratuita o de bajo costo. Para encontrar una oficina de asistencia legal cerca de donde vive, visite lawhelpca.org y haga clic en la pestaña “Buscar Ayuda Legal”. Si no califica para recibir asistencia legal y necesita ayuda para encontrar un abogado, visite la página web del Colegio de Abogados de California para encontrar un servicio local de referencia de abogados certificados, o visite la página web de las Cortes de California para inquilinos que se enfrentan a desalojos.

Californians can send complaints or tips related to housing to housing@doj.ca.gov 

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued a consumer alert reminding Californians that it is against the law for landlords to discriminate against tenants, retaliate against tenants, or influence tenants to move out by threatening to disclose a tenant’s immigration status to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or law enforcement. Especially as the federal administration carries out an inhumane campaign of mass deportation and creates a culture of fear and mistrust, it is crucial that landlords and tenants understand their obligations and rights under California law. 

“Families across the country are experiencing fear and uncertainly as a result of President Trump’s inhumane immigration agenda. Today, I remind landlords that it is illegal in California to discriminate against tenants or to harass or retaliate against a tenant by disclosing their immigration status to law enforcement,” said Attorney General Bonta. “California tenants — no matter their immigration status — have a right to safe housing and to access housing documents in a language they can understand. I will use the full force of my office to go after those who seek to take advantage of California tenants during an already challenging time.”

Housing discrimination is illegal in California. It is illegal for landlords to discriminate against tenants based on race, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, gender identity or expression, disability status, familial status, source of income (including rental assistance such as Section 8 vouchers), veteran status, or certain other protected characteristics (Gov. Code § 12955.)

Private housing providers cannot inquire about a tenant’s or applicant’s citizenship or immigration status and cannot discriminate on the basis of immigration status, citizenship, or primary language. For example, landlords cannot refuse to rent to a potential tenant, say that a rental is not available for rent when it is available, charge a tenant more rent, target a tenant for eviction, or provide a tenant with less favorable rental terms based on these characteristics (Civil Code § 1940.3(b); Gov. Code § 12955(d); Civil Code § 51.)

Landlords are never allowed to harass or retaliate against a tenant by disclosing their immigration status to law enforcement (Civil Code §§ 1940.3(b), 1942.5.) Landlords also cannot threaten to disclose a tenant’s immigration status in order to pressure a tenant to move out. (Civil Code § 1940.2.)  In most cases, landlords are not allowed to ask a tenant or potential tenant their immigration or citizenship status.

Tenants have the right to housing documents they can understand. Under California law, if tenants speak primarily Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, Vietnamese, or Korean with the landlord or property manager when applying for an apartment and signing a lease, the landlord must provide the tenant with a written translation of the lease in that language before the lease is signed, if the lease is for longer than one month. (Civil Code § 1632(b).) Later documents making substantial changes to the lease, such as notices of rent increases or fee increases, must also be translated. (Civil Code § 1632(g)(1).)

Landlords who violate these laws may be required to pay tenants for damages, penalties, and attorney’s fees. For example, a landlord who discloses a tenant’s immigration status to any immigration authority may be ordered to pay the tenant statutory damages equal to 6 to 12 times the monthly rent (Civil Code § 1940.35(b).) Tenants have an array of other rights and protections under California law. Some cities and counties also have additional renter protections, including limitations on evictions and rent increases. For more information, please visit https://oag.ca.gov/tenants. 

Landlords and Immigration Authorities  

If immigration authorities like ICE demand tenant information from a landlord, such as a tenant’s rental application or other documents, the landlord may ask to see a warrant or other authority. Landlords should immediately seek legal advice to determine whether they must comply and to ensure that they do not violate California’s anti-discrimination and privacy laws. There are different types of documents that ICE may present: 

• An ICE administrative warrant or a notice to appear for an immigration hearing does not give ICE special powers to search a landlord’s records. Landlords should seek legal advice about how to respond. See a sample ICE administrative warrant and notice to appear here (see Appendix B-D).
• If ICE presents a warrant issued by a federal court or other court order signed by a judge, landlords should comply promptly and, where feasible, seek legal advice before responding. See a sample federal court warrant here (see Appendix E, F).
• Landlords presented with a subpoena for documents or evidence should seek legal advice on how to respond. See sample subpoenas here (see Appendix G, H). See more information about subpoenas and other documents used for immigration enforcement here (see pages 17-19).
• Landlords should not physically interfere with ICE officers in the performance of their duties. 

Attorney General Bonta is committed to ensuring the rights of tenants in California are respected. Attorney General Bonta has held landlords accountable for violating California laws in Bakersfield, Marysville, and across California. Last month, Attorney General Bonta sued a group of property management and real estate holding companies owned by Mike Nijjar and members of his family. The Nijjar family and their related companies own and manage over 22,000 rental housing units statewide, primarily in low-income neighborhoods in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Kern Counties — but also spanning up to Sacramento and San Joaquin Counties. The lawsuit alleges Nijjar’s companies egregiously violated numerous California laws by subjecting tenants to unsafe units, discriminating against applicants with Section 8 housing vouchers, overcharging some tenants for rent, using leases that deceive tenants about their legal rights, and refusing to provide Spanish translations of these leases despite intentionally soliciting Spanish-speaking tenants. 

Tenants may know Nijjar’s companies by the names of their current and recent property management companies: not only PAMA Management, but also I E Rental Homes, Bridge Management, Equity Management, Golden Management, Hightower Management, Legacy Management, Mobile Management, Pro Management, and Regency Management. Anyone — including current or former tenants — who has information that might be relevant to this case are encouraged to share their stories with our office by going to oag.ca.gov/report. To learn more about your rights as a tenant, please visit here.  

Californians who are facing eviction or believe their landlord has violated their tenant rights should seek legal help immediately. If you cannot afford a lawyer, you may qualify for free or low-cost legal aid. To find a legal aid office near where you live, visit lawhelpca.org and click on the “Find Legal Help” tab. If you do not qualify for legal aid and need help finding a lawyer, visit the California State Bar webpage to find a local certified lawyer referral service, or visit the California Courts’ webpage for tenants facing evictions. 

 A copy of this press release is available in Spanish here.  

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a statement today after the Senate rejected a proposed 10-year ban on states enforcing any state law or regulation addressing artificial intelligence (AI) and automated decision-making systems which was included in budget reconciliation bill. In the last few months, California has sent letters (here and here) to Congressional leaders strongly opposing the ban arguing the rapidly evolving nature of AI technology demands the flexibility and responsiveness that states can provide and urging lawmakers to remove the provision. 

“Lawmakers across the aisle have recognized that states must retain the ability to protect their residents and respond to emerging and rapidly evolving AI technology,” said Attorney General Bonta. “The promise of AI raises exciting and important possibilities. California’s continued advancements, in AI and beyond, are something to be proud of, embrace, and encourage. But, like any emerging technology, there are risks to adoption without responsible, appropriate, and thoughtful oversight. California is proud to have vigorously opposed the ban and remains committed to ensuring the rights of our residents are respected.” 

In January, Attorney General Bonta issued two legal advisories, reminding consumers of their rights, and advising businesses and healthcare entities who develop, sell, or use AI about their obligations under California law. Although AI technology is developing quickly, entities must comply with existing California laws, as well as new laws that went into effect on January 1, 2025. The first legal advisory advises consumers and entities about their rights and obligations under the state’s consumer protection, civil rights, competition, and data privacy laws; the second advisory provides guidance specific to healthcare entities about their obligations under California law. The legal advisories can be found here, and here. 

Action represents fourth settlement, continued enforcement priority under the California Consumer Privacy Act

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced a settlement with website publisher Healthline Media LLC (Healthline), resolving allegations that its use of online tracking technology on its health information website, Healthline.com, violated the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). An investigation by the California Department of Justice (DOJ) found that Healthline failed to allow consumers to opt out of targeted advertising and shared data with third parties without CCPA-mandated privacy protections — including data suggesting that a person may have a serious health condition. The settlement includes $1.55 million in civil penalties and strong injunctive terms, including a novel term that prohibits Healthline from sharing article titles that reveal that a consumer may have already been diagnosed with a medical condition — banning the company from engaging in these types of data transmissions.

“Our settlement with Healthline underscores that Californians have critical privacy rights under the CCPA to fight online surveillance — including by website publishers. Healthline shared data with third parties that could have revealed consumers’ private medical diagnoses, and while doing so, disregarded consumer’s rights to opt-out of the sale and sharing of this data,” said Attorney General Bonta. “California continues to lead the nation in enforcing our robust privacy protection law, and businesses that collect consumer data must honor consumers’ privacy rights. My office is committed to the continued enforcement of the CCPA — every Californian has the right to their online privacy.” 

Healthline.com is a health and wellness information website that is one of the top 40 most visited websites in the world. Healthline generates revenue by showing ads — some of which are personally targeted at the reader. To maximize ad revenue, Healthline allows online trackers, like cookies and pixels, to communicate data about readers to advertisers and other third parties. Healthline shared data that could uniquely identify the consumer, in addition to the title of the article they were reading. Some titles indicated that the reader may have already been diagnosed with a serious illness, such as “You’ve Been Newly Diagnosed with MS. What’s Next?” And because these online trackers run invisibly in the background in the first milliseconds when a webpage loads, consumers often have no idea how many online trackers might be running. In Healthline’s case, dozens of trackers were sharing consumer data with numerous third parties.

The complaint filed today alleges Healthline violated the CCPA and the Unfair Competition Law by:

• Failing to opt consumers out of the sharing of their personal information for targeted advertising. The CCPA gives consumers the right to opt-out of the sale or sharing of their personal information for certain targeted advertising. Businesses and website publishers must honor these requests, including requests submitted through the Global Privacy Control. Healthline continued to share data with some third parties involved in advertising, even for consumer who exercised their right to opt -out.  

• Violating the Purpose Limitation Principle. Under the CCPA, a business’s use of personal information is limited to the purposes for which the personal information was collected or processed or another disclosed, compatible purpose. Healthline violated this principle by sharing article titles suggesting a consumer may have already been diagnosed with a specific medical condition to target advertising at the consumer.   

• Failing to maintain CCPA-required contracts. Healthline had not ensured its advertising contracts contain privacy protections for readers’ data required by the CCPA. Instead, Healthline had assumed, but not verified, that the third parties had agreed to abide by an industry contractual framework. 

• Deceiving consumers about privacy practices. The Unfair Competition Law prohibits deceptive business practices. Healthline.com featured a “consent banner” that did not disable tracking cookies, despite purporting to do so if a consumer unchecked a box.   

Under the settlement today, Healthline is required to ensure that its opt-out mechanisms work correctly; must stop disclosing information that can link a specific consumer to a specific article title that suggests that consumers have been diagnosed with a disease; must maintain a CCPA compliance program that, among other things, mandates that Healthline audits its contracts for specific, required privacy terms or confirm that third parties have signed an industry contractual framework that includes those terms; and maintain accurate online disclosures and privacy policy. 

Today's settlement represents Attorney General Bonta's fourth enforcement action under the CCPA, and his continued priority to enforce California’s robust privacy laws:  

In June 2024, Attorney General Bonta and Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto announced a $500,000 settlement with Tilting Point Media LLC resolving allegations that the company violated the CCPA and federal law by collecting and sharing children’s data without parental consent in their popular mobile app game “SpongeBob: Krusty Cook-Off.”  In February 2024, Attorney General Bonta announced a settlement with DoorDash, resolving allegations that the company violated the CCPA and COPPA, by selling California customers’ personal information without providing notice or an opportunity to opt out of that sale.  In August 2022, the Attorney General announced a settlement with Sephora resolving allegations that it failed to disclose to consumers that it was selling their personal information and failed to process opt-out requests via user-enabled global privacy controls in violation of the CCPA. 

This March, as part of ongoing efforts to enforce the CCPA, Attorney General Bonta announced an investigative sweep into the location data industry, sending letters to advertising networks, mobile app providers, and data brokers that appear to be in violation of the CCPA. The risk posed by the widespread collection and sale of location data has become immediately and particularly relevant given federal threats to California's immigrant communities, and to reproductive and gender-affirming healthcare. Attorney General Bonta has previously conducted investigative sweeps related to streaming apps and devices and employee information.

For more information about the CCPA, visit oag.ca.gov/ccpa. To report a violation of the CCPA to the Attorney General, consumers can submit a complaint online at oag.ca.gov/report.

A copy of the complaint is available here, a copy of the settlement is available here.