The California Chamber of Commerce has expressed disappointment following the approval of regulations on automated decision-making technology by the California Privacy Protection Agency. The chamber issued a statement criticizing the agency’s decision, stating that it could harm the state’s economy.
“The regulations approved by board members of the California Privacy Protection Agency are primed to cause significant harm to the state’s already-struggling economy,” the statement read.
Concerns were raised about the speed at which these regulations were passed. “Even advocates who sharply disagree over the path forward on regulating automated decision-making technology raised concerns about the rush to judgment during the meeting of the board — a governing body that seemingly ignored some 400 pages of public comments as well as the suggestions made in the spring by Gov. Gavin Newsom and some two dozen legislators. Those thoughtful requests seem to have fallen on deaf ears.”
The chamber also criticized what it called a lackluster economic analysis conducted by the agency. “No less perplexing was the agency’s paper-thin economic analysis of the impact on California jobs and businesses, a cursory review that at best admits tens of thousands of Californians will be out of work before the end of the decade due to pending regulations.”
The statement highlighted concerns over affordability in California, stating, “California faces an affordability crisis that is stifling efforts to reduce cost-of-living for working families. Imposing inflexible regulations on a growing and vital part of tech economy is a step in wrong direction.”
