Consumer Protection

Bill to raise public awareness, turn the tide of a growing public health crisis

SAN FRANCISCO — California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda) today introduced Assembly Bill 56 (AB 56), legislation that would arm people with clear information about the risks of social media for kids and teens. Adolescents who spend more than three hours per day on social media face double the risk of experiencing poor mental health outcomes, including symptoms of depression and anxiety. AB 56 would require social media companies to disclose this risk to users by adding a warning label to their platforms to ensure consumers have equitable access to information that may affect their health. 

“Social media companies have demonstrated an unwillingness to tackle the mental health crisis, instead digging in deeper into harnessing addictive features and harmful content for the sake of profits. It is our responsibility to make sure consumers have access to information that may affect their health, so they can make the best choices for themselves and their families," said Attorney General Rob Bonta. "Social media warning labels are an equitable and transparent way to communicate the risks that social media engagement poses to young users. Warning labels alone are not a panacea, they are another tool in the toolbox to address the growing mental health crisis and protect future generations of children."

“Social media platforms have built systems designed to keep our children endlessly engaged, often at the expense of their mental health,” said Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan. “This bill shines a light on those harms and ensures that families are equipped with critical information to make informed choices. I’m proud to partner with Attorney General Bonta to prioritize the well-being of California’s youth.”

“Time spent on social media can displace time for other healthful activities, including sleep, exercise, and in-person socialization,” said Dr. Jason Nagata, MD, a pediatrician who specializes in adolescent mental health. “While social media can provide educational content, it can also provide misinformation about health, and expose children to content that damages their mental well-being. These are risks that adolescents and their parents should be aware of." 

“When it comes to protecting kids from the risks of social media, California has always been a leader, and that continues today with this legislative proposal to make sure that people who use social media will be warned about its negative effects,” said James P. Steyer, Founder and CEO of Common Sense Media. “Just like we needed seat belts and warning labels for alcohol, we now need digital safety standards for social media platforms. Common Sense Media applauds Attorney General Bonta and Assemblywoman Bauer-Kahan for their leadership, and we look forward to working together to pass this important bill."

A growing body of research links young people’s use of social media platforms to a variety of serious harms, including depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. Algorithm-driven social media use also interferes with adolescents’ daily lives by chronically disrupting their sleep with irresistible algorithmic recommendations, infinite scrolling, and a constant stream of notifications designed to keep kids relentlessly engaged on the platform. 

Earlier this year, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called on Congress to require a surgeon general’s warning on social media platforms. Attorney General Bonta, joined by a bipartisan coalition of 42 attorneys general, supported this proposal and argued that by mandating a surgeon general’s warning on algorithm-driven social media platforms, Congress can address the growing youth mental health crisis and protect future generations of Americans. Under AB 56, the black box warning must be displayed to users of all ages upon their first use of the platform and after this, at least once weekly. The warning would be displayed continuously for a duration of at least 90 seconds.

Attorney General Bonta is steadfast in his commitment to create a safer online for children and teens. Today’s action does not stand alone — it is an important piece in the greater arc to protect children online.

 In October 2024, Attorney General Bonta co-led a bipartisan coalition of 14 attorneys general in filing separate enforcement actions against TikTok for violations of state consumer protection laws. California’s action alleges that TikTok exploits and harms young users and deceives the public about the social media platform’s dangers. In October 2023, Attorney General Bonta co-led a bipartisan coalition of 33 attorneys general in filing a federal lawsuit against Meta alleging the company designed and deployed harmful features that addict children and teens to their mental and physical detriment, and in November 2023, he announced the public release of a largely unredacted copy of the federal complaint. In September 2024, Attorney General Bonta’s sponsored bill, Senate Bill 976 (SB 976) was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom. SB 976 provides important new protections for young people in California by resetting the defaults on social media platforms to disfavor addictive algorithmic feeds, notifications, and other addictive design features that lead children and teens to spend hours and hours on their platforms. 

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today urged shoppers to be on the lookout for common scams this holiday season and offered tips on how to shop safely. As Black Friday and Cyber Monday quickly approach, Californians should stay alert and take action to protect themselves and their loved ones from purchases that can cause headaches and heartbreak.   

“As the holiday season approaches and folks look for the best deals, consumers should slow down and check their safety list twice,” said Attorney General Bonta. “I urge Californians to know their rights, familiarize themselves with shopping pitfalls, and report scams and illegal activity to my office and local law enforcement agencies. Happy and safe shopping, California!”

Be On the Lookout For: 

Gift Card Draining  

Gift card draining is a scam in which bad actors record pin numbers and other information from unpurchased gift cards. Once those cards are purchased by unsuspecting consumers, and money is loaded into the card, the scammer immediately uses the numbers to make purchases, leaving buyers with worthless gift cards. 

When purchasing a gift card, make sure the card is sealed and the protective cover and tape covering the pin is intact; remember to keep the store receipt in case the gift card you purchase is found to have been compromised. If a purchased gift card is compromised, report it to the gift card company directly, ask for a freeze on the card, and request a refund. You may also file a complaint with our office at oag.ca.gov/report. 

Hidden Fees 

Check your receipts! In California most hidden fees are illegal. Senate Bill 478 (SB 478) requires that the price listed includes all mandatory charges consumers will pay. SB 478, which went into effect on July 1, 2024, makes it illegal for a business to advertise or list a price for a good or service that does not include all required fees or charges except for certain government taxes and shipping costs. 

Mandatory fees charged by restaurants, bars, and other select food vendors are exempted from SB 478’s requirements so long as the fee is clearly and conspicuously displayed on the menu. Consumers who observe apparent violations are encouraged to have a conversation with the business about coming into compliance. Consumers, employees, and competitor businesses who observe apparent violations can also file a complaint with our office at oag.ca.gov/report.

Gender-Based Price Differences

Under AB 1287, businesses are prohibited from charging different prices for substantially similar goods based on the gender of the product’s target audience — a practice known as the “Pink Tax” when it is used to charge women higher prices than men for essentially the same goods. If you have seen or believe you are the victim of illegal gender-based price differences, please file a complaint at oag.ca.gov/report.

Lack of a Gender-Neutral Products Section

Does your department store have a gender-neutral children section? As of January 1, 2024, large retail department stores that sell childcare items or toys must maintain a gender-neutral section for these items. Under AB 1084, retail department stores that have physical locations in California and 500 or more employees across all California locations must maintain a gender-neutral section, where a reasonable selection of the childcare items and toys for children that they sell must be displayed, regardless of whether these products are traditionally marketed for boys or girls. By requiring large retailers to maintain a gender-neutral section, AB 1084 makes it more difficult for these retailers to engage in gender-based pricing discrimination and reduces the imposition of gender stereotypes on children.

If you do not see an adequate gender-neutral product section in a large retail department store in California that you believe is covered by this law, you may take pictures, document, and file a complaint with our office at oag.ca.gov/report. 

Tips for Safe Shopping:

• Take time to compare products. To get the best deal, do research, check product comparison sites, and read online reviews.
• Be suspicious of a price or deal that seems too good to be true. Chances are, it probably is. There is always the possibility that the seller may not send you anything, or the item you get may be counterfeit or stolen.
• Check to see if a business is legitimate. Search online for customer feedback, complaints, and other information that will help you determine whether a seller is legitimate or trustworthy. More information on how to check a company’s background can be found here.  
• Use a credit card when shopping. Shopping with a credit card allows you to dispute charges if something goes wrong. Cash, money order, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers do not provide you with the same ability to reverse the charge. If you receive an unauthorized or incorrect charge on your credit card, you can follow these steps to dispute the charge.
• Give gifts, not personal information. Before providing any personal or financial information online, always make sure that the website you are on is secure. You can check this by looking at the URL address to see if it begins with "https" (the “s” indicates it’s secure) and/or has a lock icon displayed, typically on the left-hand side. Do not provide your credit card number, checking account, or social security number via email, as this is never a safe way to transmit financial information. You can find more tips regarding online purchases here.
• Don’t open links from unsolicited text messages. You may receive text messages from unknown numbers offering discount codes or access to exclusive sales. Think twice before clicking on these links, as they may expose you to a scam, hacker, downloadable malware, or add your number to a calling list without your consent. 
• Close accounts on websites and apps that you no longer need. By closing your accounts, you remove private data from services you no longer use and minimize your digital footprint. You have the right to delete your personal information under the California Consumer Privacy Act. More information on data privacy and security can be found here.
• Understand the pitfalls of zero-interest financing offers. While a company may advertise a zero-interest rate, be aware that not everyone will qualify. Oftentimes, qualifying for zero-interest financing requires you to have a near-perfect credit score. Zero-interest financing may also come with certain restrictions, and in many cases the offer may just be an introductory rate, with a very high-interest rate once the introductory period ends. You can find additional information on zero-interest financing here.
• Be cautious about “Buy Now, Pay Later” financing. Buy now, pay later offers can come with hefty interest rates and late fees, especially if you aren’t able to make payments on time. Late payments can also hurt your credit and result in lawsuits by debt collectors. You can find additional information on buy, now pay later financing here. 

Continues work to protect consumers from unwanted robocalls

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today joined a bipartisan coalition of 47 attorneys general in submitting a comment letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in support of its proposed rules designed to protect consumers from illegal robocalls by increasing the effectiveness of the FCC’s Robocall Mitigation Database. The FCC currently requires all voice-service providers operating in the U.S. to provide this public FCC database with information regarding their caller-ID authentication system and a detailed robocall-mitigation plan to minimize illegal call traffic. The proposed FCC rules would strengthen these filing requirements and increase penalties for noncompliance. In the letter, the attorneys general argue that these proposals aimed at increasing accountability and accuracy among filers are necessary for the database to remain an effective tool in the fight against unwanted robocalls.

“Robocalls are not only annoying, they can also facilitate scams that result in real financial losses for Californians. This is a nationwide problem, and we need nationwide solutions,” said Attorney General Bonta. “The Robocall Mitigation Database is an essential resource to combat illegal robocalls and should treated as more than just a formality. I am proud to join this bipartisan effort to ensure the tools in our toolbox remain effective in fighting robocalls and protecting consumers.”

The Robocall Mitigation Database is an anti-robocall public database tool created by the FCC. The FCC proposal aims to make reporting information to the database — and the database itself — more effective by implementing policies to identify deficient filings, requiring the correction of flawed filings, and enforcing consequences for filings that are, false, incomplete, or misleading. In the letter, the attorneys general express support for the proposal and recognize it as an important continuation of bipartisan work to protect consumers from illegal and fraudulent robocall traffic. 

Attorney General Bonta is committed to enforcing consumer protections in the state of California and speaking out for consumer protections nationwide, including working to put a stop to illegal robocalls. Attorney General Bonta is part of the Anti-Robocall Multistate Litigation Task Force, a task force of 51 bipartisan attorneys general who investigate and take legal action against those responsible for routing significant volumes of illegal robocall traffic into and across the United States. 

•  Last month, Attorney General Bonta issued a warning letter to a telecom company responsible for transmitting suspected illegal robocall traffic, including robocalls that impersonated government officials.
•  In February, Attorney General Bonta joined a coalition of 51 bipartisan attorneys general in issuing a warning letter to a company that allegedly sent New Hampshire residents scam election robocalls during the New Hampshire primary election. 
• In January, Attorney General Bonta filed a comment letter responding to the FCC related to the potential impact of emerging artificial intelligence technology on efforts to protect consumers from illegal robocalls and robotexts.
• In May 2023, Attorney General Bonta, as part of a bipartisan coalition of 49 attorneys general, announced a lawsuit against Avid Telecom for allegedly initiating and facilitating billions of unlawful robocalls that included Social Security Administration scams, Medicare scams, and employment scams.

In sending today’s letter, Attorney General Bonta joins the attorneys general of North Carolina, Illinois, Ohio, Arkansas, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and the District of Columbia.

A copy of the comment letter is available here. 

Schemes to sell sick puppies leave new owners with high vet bills and anguish

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today urged consumers looking to purchase pets to be vigilant for deceptive and criminal breeders. These breeders often subject animals to unhygienic and cruel living conditions, leading to poor health outcomes for pets and high veterinary bills and heartache for new owners. Puppy mills are commercial dog breeding facilities that disregard dogs' health and safety to maximize profits. Deceptive breeders will often advertise puppies as having been born to a litter in the breeder’s home when in reality, puppies are born in puppy mills.

“I adopted my dogs, Luna and Solí, from a shelter, and they have become deeply cherished members of our family. While I highly encourage Californians to adopt their pets from animal shelters and rescue organizations, consumers who continue to purchase their dogs from breeders should ensure the person they are buying from is responsible, honest, and credible,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “Tragically and too often, shady breeders only interested in making a profit sell chronically sick, injured, and mistreated puppies to unsuspecting consumers. This is sickening. I urge Californians to be vigilant and watch out for negligent breeders.” 

"Consumers greatly underestimate the variety and selection of beautiful, healthy, friendly pets they can find in shelters statewide, and we strongly urge them to check with their local shelters first when ready for a new pet," said Jill Tucker, CEO of the California Animal Welfare Association. "Shelters throughout California are inundated with wonderful puppies, kittens, and adult animals that are ready for new homes, along with knowledgeable staff and volunteers that will help them select the right match. There has never been a better time to adopt."

Know What to Look For:

A reputable breeder should meet you in person — not sell their puppies or kittens through pet stores or online to people they have not met. They will show you records and openly share details about how the animal was born and raised, individual records of health tests and veterinary records for the animal and their parents, and the animals’ living conditions. Be suspicious if a breeder doesn't ask you questions or seem concerned about the well-being of their animals. Responsible breeders will want you to sign a contract and will ask you to return the pet to them if you are ever unable to keep them.

Deceitful sellers may understand you want to take precautions and try to persuade you that it’s not necessary. The California Department of Justice urges consumers who obtain their pets from breeders to do the following:

• Get a referral and ask for references. Ask your veterinarian, trusted friends, local breed clubs, and professional dog or cat shows to find a reputable breeder. Ask breeders for references, including those of the veterinarians they use.
• Visit the breeder’s home. Be sure the animals’ living conditions are clean and humane. Ask to see the animal’s parents and the nursery area yourself. Never buy a puppy or kitten without visiting where they and their parents were raised and housed—don’t just trust papers and pictures.
• Be wary of a seller who sells animals from a parking lot or other location other than their home. Some scammers use this tactic and then disappear, leaving new owners stuck with large veterinary bills and heartache. Scammers often resell puppies from puppy mills and make up stories for sympathy.
• Ask the seller lots of questions and verify their official identification. Make sure the breeder is responsible. Many responsible breeders often rigorously evaluate buyers. Credible breeders often belong to purebred animal breeding clubs and demonstrate high ethical values regarding the breeding of animals. Make sure to ask lots of questions about the pet’s history, temperament, and other important information.
• Make sure the animal has been examined by a veterinarian. Get copies of all medical records, and confirm the records with the vet directly—if medical records are missing, that is a red flag. Make sure the animal is vaccinated—unvaccinated puppies and kittens may have already contracted a serious disease.
• Pay with a traceable form of payment rather than cash and ask for a receipt. The receipt should include the seller’s name, address, and license number — a seller who only accepts cash or won’t provide a receipt is not a reputable seller.
• Insist on a written guarantee of good health and find out if the animal can be returned for any reason. A seller who agrees to provide a written health guarantee and to accept return of the animal is more likely to care about the animal and have their best interest in mind.
• Be wary if the puppy or kitten seems ill, depressed, or lethargic. These could be signs of serious medical problems.
• Take your new pet to your vet. Ensure your new pet undergoes an exam and any necessary vaccinations as soon as possible.

Understand Your Rights:

California law allows select small breeders and pet retailers to sell pets if they maintain health and safety standards for their animals and provides for a remedy for consumers who unknowingly purchase sick pets.

The Lockyer-Polanco-Farr Pet Protection Act (CA Health & Safety Code § 122125 et seq.)

Pet retailers selling more than 50 dogs or cats a year to must have a permit, maintain health and safety standards for their animals, sell only healthy animals, and provide written spay-neuter, health, and animal history disclosures to pet buyers.

If a dog or cat becomes ill due to a pre-existing illness within 15 days from purchase, or if the pet is adversely affected by a congenital or hereditary condition within one year from purchase, the seller must offer the owner a refund, exchange another puppy or kitten, or reimbursement of veterinary bills up to 150% of the pet’s purchase price. 

The Polanco-Lockyer Pet Breeder Warranty Act (CA Health & Safety Code § 122045 et seq.)

The law offers protection similar to that of the Lockyer-Polanco-Farr Pet Protection Act except that it applies only to dog breeders who sold or gave away either three litters or 20 dogs in the previous year.

AB 485  

AB 485, which went into effect in January 2019, prohibits pet store operators from selling animals unless they were obtained from a public animal control agency, shelter, or animal rescue group. This law does not prohibit someone from obtaining an animal directly from a breeder.

Helpful Resources:

If you are concerned about a possible puppy mill in your area, please file a complaint with The Humane Society, here.

If you suspect criminal conduct related to a puppy mill or breeder, please file a complaint with your local District Attorney's Office. You may also file a complaint with our office at oag.ca.gov/report.

SAN FRANCISCO — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today delivered remarks on California Department of Justice’s preparations to protect California’s values, people, and natural resources ahead of a second Trump Administration. To view a recording of the press conference, please visit here. 

Attorney General Bonta's Remarks as Prepared for Delivery:

As the reality of a second Trump Administration takes hold, I know there is a great deal of fear, sadness, anxiety, and panic. 

I understand. 

I’m here today to reassure you that in California, progress will prevail. 

No matter who is in the White House, no matter who holds control of Congress, in California we will keep moving forward. 

In California, we will choose calm over chaos. 

Fact over fiction.

Belonging over blame.

Unity over division. 

“Us and we” over “I and me.” 

It’s why we’re the 5th largest economy in the world. Not in spite of our commitment to workers, consumers, and the environment, because of it. 

Because we’re the largest and most diverse state in the nation.

Because we believe in the power of inclusivity.

Because we believe in truth over lies. Hope over hate. Light over dark.

Because  we believe in looking forward.

It’s who we are in the Golden State. It’s in our DNA. Nothing and no one can change that. 

As Attorney General, I’ll continue to use the full force of the law and authority of this office to address injustice. 

To stand up for all people, especially those who have long been overlooked and undervalued.

To safeguard reproductive rights. 

And advocate for more housing — especially more affordable housing for lower and middle-income families just trying to get by.

I’ll continue to take on greedy corporate giants and fight for more affordable gas, groceries, and everything in between.  

I’ll continue to defend our world-renowned natural resources and protect them for generations to come. 

Continue to fight for clean water to drink and clean air to breathe.

Continue to crack down on illicit guns on our streets and get fentanyl out of our neighborhoods. 

Continue to fight for workers.

I’ll continue to protect, defend, and serve every single Californian. No matter your politics. 

I’m here to ensure every person — no matter how they look, how much money they make, where they’re from, who they love, how they identify, or how they pray — can pursue their version of the California Dream. 

A fair wage and good benefits.  

A safe and affordable place to live.  

Affordable and accessible health care. 

Good schools to send our kids to. 

Safe neighborhoods to raise our families. 

That’s my promise to you, no matter who is in the White House.  

We’ve been here before.

We lived through Trump 1.0. 

We know what he’s capable of. 

We know what plans he has in store. 

The silver lining is just that: we know. 

We know to take Trump at his word when he says he’ll roll back environmental protections, go after our immigrant and LGBTQ+ communities, attack our civil rights, and restrict access to essential reproductive care.

Which means, we won’t be flat-footed come January.

You can be sure that as California Attorney General, if Trump attacks your rights: I’ll be there. 

If Trump comes after your freedoms: I’ll be there. 

If Trump jeopardizes your safety and well-being: I’ll be there.

California DOJ did it before and we’ll do it again.  

During the last Trump Administration, California DOJ fought to stop illegal rollbacks and proposals that would’ve harmed the well-being, health, safety, and civil rights of our people and of people across the country. 

That would have caused irrevocable damage to our environment.

No matter who is in charge of the federal government…

No matter what the incoming Administration has in store… California will remain the steadfast beacon of progress it has long been.  

A constant, unwavering, immoveable force to be reckoned with.  

We’ll continue to be a check on overreach and push back on abuse of power. 

Be the antidote to dangerous, extremist, hateful vitriol.

Be the blueprint of progress for the nation to look to.

Remember: in moments of chaos in D.C., you can always look to California for calm resolve. 

California leaders across the state are ready to stand arm-in-arm. 

Governor Newsom and every single Constitutional Officer;  

Senator Padilla and Senator-elect Schiff;  

Democratic members of Congress; 

Pro Tem McGuire, Speaker Rivas, and the California Legislature; 

Mayors, supervisors, and city councilmembers from San Francisco to San Diego are ready to fight for our California values. 

For our people. For our environment.

For progress and justice.

And as necessary, we’re ready to take on the challenges of a second Trump Administration — together.

While a great deal of change is on the horizon…

California’s path to progress remains full steam ahead.

It may not always be linear. Progress so rarely is. 

It zigs and zags. Takes frustrating detours. Inches forward and backward and forward again. 

The detours and setbacks don’t define our progress.

Our commitment to forward momentum defines our progress. Defines us. 

It’s what we do next that will define us. 

If you’re feeling despondent today, remember that you’re not alone. 

In California, we’re not looking back. We’re not moving back. 

We’re California! We’ll meet any challenges head on and rise to the occasion.

As is so often said, as California goes, so goes the nation.

In the days and months and years to come, all eyes will look west. 

In California, they’ll see: we’re still moving forward.

Thank you. 

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today joined 16 attorneys general in supporting a federal prohibition on price gouging. While 40 states across the country, including California, ban price gouging, there is no federal price gouging prohibition. Because so many product supply chains are nationwide, states face heightened challenges when protecting consumers from price gouging. A complementary federal price gouging prohibition would provide critical partnership to state enforcement, protect both consumers and small businesses, and strengthen existing state laws.

“During and after a crisis, it is unfair — and harmful to our economy —for companies to reap higher profits for selling goods and services that families need to survive. That is why California’s price gouging law protects Californians during and after wildfires, severe weather storms, and other emergencies,” said Attorney General Bonta. “A federal price gouging prohibition that complements state law would build on successful partnerships between states and the federal government to protect consumers by making it easier to enforce price gouging prohibitions nationally, up the supply chain. This would benefit California consumers and small businesses who currently bear the brunt of their suppliers’ price setting.”

Price gouging refers to sellers who take unfair advantage of consumers during an emergency or disaster by greatly increasing prices for essential consumer goods and services. Price gouging prohibitions are not price caps; prohibitions place temporary limits on a business’s ability to raise its profits on essential goods in a crisis. Price gouging prohibitions allow businesses to raise prices to cover costs, but those price increases should not result in an increase in their profits.

In the letter, the attorneys general explain that the current gap in federal regulations allows larger companies outside of state control to raise prices and pass down costs to smaller businesses. Without a federal prohibition, consumer-facing retailers — often small businesses — bear the burden of reputational and legal consequences of crisis-induced higher prices, even when the most significant price gouging activity may be happening up the supply chain. A federal price gouging prohibition that complemented state prohibitions would allow federal enforcement agencies, such as the Federal Trade Commission, to identify and restrain irrational price increases throughout the entire supply chain.

In the letter, the attorneys general argue that price gouging laws have key benefits that strengthen the economy. Price gouging laws:

• Prevent inefficient pricing overreactions in the heat of a crisis. Setting prices too high may damage a business’s reputation and harm long-term profitability.
• Encourage the production of essential supplies. Increasing production and selling more products, instead of selling the same amount at a higher price, allows businesses to increase their gross profits but not their profit margins and helps ensure people have enough essential supplies at reasonable costs.
• Prevent hoarding. Encourages businesses to directly limit inefficient over-consumption.
• Keep prices competitive. If consumers have no choice but to buy an essential product from one particular seller, price gouging prohibitions can restrain high prices for products where there is very little competition. 

In sending today’s letter, Attorney General Bonta joined the attorneys general of New York, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Oregon, New Jersey, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and the District of Columbia. 

In California, price gouging during a state of emergency is illegal under Penal Code Section 396. Californians who believe they have been the victim of price gouging should report it to their local authorities or to the Attorney General at oag.ca.gov/report.

For additional information, please see DOJ's FAQs on price gouging here.

A copy of the letter can be found here.

Continues work to protect consumers from annoying — and deceitful — robocalls

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today joined the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and a coalition of 51 bipartisan attorneys general in issuing a warning letter to a telecom company responsible for transmitting suspected illegal robocall traffic, including robocalls that impersonated government officials and imitated a hotline used by the Illinois Attorney General’s office. 

In the warning letter, Attorney General Bonta and the attorneys general on the nationwide Anti-Robocall Multistate Litigation Task Force warn iDentidad Advertising Development LLC dba iDentidad Telecom (iDentidad) that they need to cease transmitting any unlawful call traffic immediately. Originating and transmitting illegal robocalls violates the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, the Telemarketing Sales Rule, the Truth in Caller ID Act, and other state consumer protection laws.

“Consumers deserve to know that the voice on the other end of the line is precisely who they claim to be. Robocalls aren’t just frustrating, they can result in serious financial harm and the impersonation of government officials,” said Attorney General Bonta. “I am proud to join in this national, bipartisan effort to protect consumers from unwanted robocalls and warn companies to stop illegal conduct immediately.”

The Task Force notes that iDentidad is a gateway provider responsible for funneling high-volume robocall campaigns from outside the country into the U.S., including a large number of illegal or suspicious calls involving IRS/Social Security Administration government imposters, utility scams, and financial scams. The letter warns iDentidad that if they don’t stop routing suspicious or illegal robocall traffic, the attorneys general may take legal action including seeking damages, civil penalties, and injunctions. In addition to the warning letter, the FCC also sent a cease-and-desist to iDentidad today, demanding that it immediately stop supporting illegal robocall traffic on its network.

The Anti-Robocall Multistate Litigation Task Force of 51 bipartisan attorneys general investigates and takes legal action against those responsible for routing significant volumes of illegal robocall traffic into and across the United States.

Attorney General Bonta is committed to enforcing consumer protections in the state of California and speaking out for consumer protections nationwide, including working to put a stop to illegal robocalls. In February, Attorney General Bonta joined a coalition of 51 bipartisan attorneys general in issuing a warning letter to a company that allegedly sent New Hampshire residents scam election robocalls during the New Hampshire primary election. In January, Attorney General Bonta joined a coalition of 26 attorneys general in filing a comment letter responding to the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) notice of inquiry related to the potential impact of emerging artificial intelligence (AI) technology on efforts to protect consumers from illegal robocalls or robotexts. In May 2023, Attorney General Bonta, as part of a bipartisan coalition of 49 attorneys general, announced a lawsuit against Avid Telecom for allegedly initiating and facilitating billions of unlawful robocalls that included Social Security Administration scams, Medicare scams, and employment scams. 

A copy of the letter is available here.

 Staying safe online is easier than you think

OAKLAND – In recognition of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, which is celebrated annually every October, California Attorney General Rob Bonta today provided tips for consumers and businesses to defend themselves against cybersecurity threats. 

“During Cybersecurity Awareness Month and beyond, I urge Californians and businesses to take online threats seriously,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Don’t wait for a cyberattack or data breach to prioritize your protection – the time to act is now. Whether you’re an individual or a business, digital security is for everyone. In a world that increasingly operates online, keeping data safe is a collective responsibility.” 

The theme of Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2024 is “Secure Our World,” to remind us that there are simple ways to protect yourself, your family, and your workplace from online threats.

Below are four simple and effective ways you can stay safe online at home or on the job:

Use Strong Passwords

Fight the urge to reuse passwords. Strong passwords are long, random, and unique, and include all four character types (uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols). Password managers are a powerful tool to help you create strong passwords for each of your accounts.

Turn On Multifactor Authentication (MFA)

Turning on MFA provides you with extra security by confirming your identity when logging in to your accounts. MFA significantly protects you from being hacked. Enable MFA on all your online accounts that offer it, especially email, social media, and financial accounts.

Think Before You Click!

Be cautious of unsolicited messages asking for personal information and avoid sharing sensitive information or credentials with unknown sources. Phishing is the fraudulent practice where bad actors send emails or other messages pretending to be from reputable sources in order to obtain private and personal information from individuals. Report phishing attempts and remember to delete the phishing message.

Promptly Update Software

Avoid clicking “Remind me later” when you see an update alert. Ensuring your software is up to date is the best way to make sure you have the latest security updates on your devices. Regularly check for updates if automatic updates are unavailable.

Helpful Resources

Individuals can find data privacy resources and information on our privacy and data security web page. Additional cybersecurity resources can be found on the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) cybersecurity resources website, as well as on the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s cybersecurity website.

Businesses can find useful cybersecurity resources on CISA’s resources for business web page.

California law requires a business or state agency to notify any California resident whose unencrypted personal information was acquired, or reasonably believed to have been acquired, during a data security breach. You can find more information regarding this requirement on our data security breach reporting web page.

For more information about Cybersecurity Awareness Month, visit here.

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta, along with a bipartisan coalition of 33 attorneys general, successfully blocked an attempt by Meta to dismiss the coalition’s lawsuit against the company for its part in harming children’s mental health and for allowing young children on its platforms in violation of federal law. In October 2023, Attorney General Bonta co-led a bipartisan coalition of 33 attorneys general in filing a federal lawsuit against Meta. Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, the lawsuit alleges that Meta, among other things, deceived the public regarding its design and deployment of harmful features on Instagram and Facebook that addict children and teens to their mental and physical detriment.

“Meta needs to be held accountable for the very real harm it has inflicted on children here in California and across the country,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Along with legislation providing for market-wide changes, this litigation will help determine how social media companies can be held accountable and how these companies can treat our children for decades to come. I have an immense amount of hope for the future. As the home to the greatest innovators in the world and a robust technology sector, California has a particular opportunity and obligation to be a catalyst for change. Meta can and must do better. Our children deserve their childhoods back.”

ABX2-1 protects consumers from avoidable gas price spikes that pad big oil profits

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a statement today after ABX2-1 was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom. Authored by Assemblymember Gregg Hart (D-Santa Barbara), Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters), Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) and co-sponsored by Attorney General Bonta and Governor Gavin Newsom, ABX2-1 would stabilize California's oil market by ensuring refineries have adequate fuel reserves to avoid supply shortages that hike gas prices and harm consumers.

“Californians have been paying too much for gas, while year after year, oil companies report record profits at their expense. Let’s be clear – the price spikes consumers see at the pump are profit spikes for big oil,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “Enough is enough. ABX2-1 will save Californians billions of dollars and reduce opportunities for Big Oil to manipulate the market.”

“Price spikes have cost Californians billions of dollars over the years, and we’re not waiting around for the industry to do the right thing — we’re taking action to prevent these price spikes and save consumers money at the pump,” said Governor Gavin Newsom. “Now, the state has the tools to make sure they backfill supplies and plan ahead for maintenance so there aren’t shortages that drive up prices. I’m grateful to our partners in the Senate and Assembly for acting quickly to push this forward and help deliver relief for Californians.”

“This landmark legislation is a win for consumers, and a win for accountability in the state’s gasoline market,” said Assemblymember Gregg Hart, D- Santa Barbara. “ABX2- 1 will save working California families billions at the gas pump. This common sense solution has received broad public support because consumers know that when gas prices spike in California, the oil industry unfairly profits.”

“ABX2-1 was the subject of an extensive amount of scrutiny, testimony and participation by Members of the Legislature in over 18 hours of hearings. I am proud of the work done by our Assembly Policy Chair, Assemblymember Petrie-Norris, and my colleagues and Joint Authors Assemblymember Hart and Senator Skinner on this critical issue,” said Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar Curry, D-Winters. “This bill clearly states that no regulations will move forward unless there is a tangible benefit to California gas consumers, and that the safety of our refinery workers and the public is paramount in any action taken by the State. Our work is not done when the Governor signs ABX2-1. We owe it to all Californians to remain actively engaged in the regulatory process to assure those goals and values are met.”

California's oil market is uniquely vulnerable to manipulation from oil companies. California’s isolated fuel market makes it so supply disruptions including planned maintenance outages can dramatically impact prices. Because nearly all in-state supply comes from a handful of refineries, a single refinery outage could drastically reduce refining capacity. This volatility places an undue burden on California consumers, especially consumers with fixed or limited incomes.

To stabilize California's oil supply and prevent price spikes, ABX2-1 requires refineries to maintain adequate reserves and properly plan for refinery shutdowns. ABX2-1 would authorize the California Energy Commission to adopt regulations requiring refiners to maintain minimum inventory levels and establish effective penalties to ensure the law is enforceable and Big Oil follows the rules. The Commission can only adopt these regulations if it determines that they will lead to lower average retail prices, increase the fuel supply, and reduce price instability for consumers.

Attorney General Bonta is steadfast in his commitment to protect consumers at the pump and hold bad actors accountable. This month, Attorney General Bonta urged California residents who purchased gas in Southern California in 2015 to submit a claim for a payment under the state’s $50 million settlement with gas trading firms for tampering with and manipulating prices for California gasoline. Last year, Attorney General Bonta co-sponsored SBX1-2, which increases transparency in the oil industry to help identify causes of price irregularities. Authored by Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), co-sponsored by Governor Newsom, and approved by a supermajority in both the Senate and Assembly, SBX1-2 created a dedicated independent watchdog to root out market manipulation and price gouging by oil companies. The law went into effect on June 26, 2023.