Governor Newsom signs Opt Me Out Act, requiring browsers opt-out signals by Jan 2027

What happened

• Governor Gavin Newsom signed the California Opt Me Out Act (AB 566) on 21 October 2026.
• The requirement closes a gap in the California Consumer Privacy Act by making the signal widely available.
• The California Privacy Protection Agency will oversee implementation and public education.

Why it matters

Browser vendors must add OOPS controls and ensure sites honor the signals, while marketers should adjust data‑collection workflows to respect automatic opt‑outs.

Business impact

Web browsers will need to redesign UI and backend to emit OOPS, incurring development costs; websites that ignore the signal could face consumer backlash and potential regulatory scrutiny.

What to check

1. 1

   Add OOPS UI to browsersCritical priority

   Implement a built‑in opt‑out preference signal that users can enable with a single click.

2. 2

   Update website privacy handlingHigh priority

   Configure servers to detect and respect OOPS signals, halting data sale or sharing for opted‑out users.

3. 3

   Test signal transmissionMedium priority

   Run end‑to‑end tests to verify OOPS signals are correctly sent by browsers and received by websites.

4. 4

   Notify users of new controlsMedium priority

   Publish clear guidance on how users can enable OOPS in supported browsers.