Audit Finds Big Tech Routinely Ignores California Privacy Opt-Out Requests

An audit has revealed that major technology companies frequently fail to honor opt-out requests submitted under California’s privacy law. Despite legal requirements compelling businesses to respect consumer choices about data collection and sale, many large firms continue processing personal information after users exercise their rights.

The findings underscore a persistent enforcement gap in state-level privacy regulation. Even with California’s relatively strong consumer protections, compliance remains inconsistent among the industry’s largest players, raising questions about whether current penalties and oversight mechanisms are sufficient to change behavior at scale.