| A number of tech ballot initiatives were considered. |
There were a number of significant technology measures put before voters in states in yesterday’s election. The most significant were in California as voters agreed to replace the “California Consumer Privacy Act” (CCPA) (AB 375) with a new privacy bill, voted for another technology-related ballot initiative, and rejected another one. In voting for Proposition 24, California voters chose to replace the recently effective CCPA with the “California Privacy Rights Act” (CPRA) (see here for my analysis) that will largely be operative on 1 January 2023, meaning the CCPA will continue to be the law of California until then unless a federal privacy law is enacted that preempts all state laws.
California voters voted for Proposition 22 that would allow Uber, Lyft and other companies to “Classif[y] app-based drivers as “independent contractors,” instead of “employees,” and provide[] independent-contractor drivers other compensation, unless certain criteria are met.” This ballot initiative would essentially negate AB 5, legislation that codified a court ruling that created the presumption that a person hired by an employer is an employee and not a contractor. Uber and Lyft have been fighting enforcement of AB 5 in court.
Voters also rejected Proposition 25 that would have permitted a 2018 statute to take effect that would have abolished cash bail in California with a system that determines who gets bail on the basis of algorithms. Elsewhere, Michigan voters overwhelmingly voted to support Proposal 20-2. Require Warrant for Electronic Data that would change state law to make electronic communications data protected to the extent police would need to obtain a search warrant before accessing it. In Massachusetts, voters supported expanding a right to repair cars law that would require auto manufacturers to make available telematic data to third-party repair garages. This law is seen as a precursor of a similar right to repair hardware that could soon be placed on ballots throughout the United States.
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Michael Kans 