Consumer Protection

Attorney General Bonta Appeals Age-Appropriate Design Code Act Decision

April 11, 2025
Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today appealed the Northern District of California’s decision to block enforcement of the Age-Appropriate Design Code Act, in response to a lawsuit brought by an online trade association representing companies such as Google, Meta, Amazon, and Twitter.

“We are deeply concerned about further delay in implementing protections for children online. That is why, today, my office has appealed the Northern District of California’s decision blocking enforcement of the Age-Appropriate Design Code,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “I am committed to making social media safer for children by defending California’s commonsense statutes — our kids’ safety cannot wait.”

"Every parent knows that our children are exposed to too much harm online, and they are demanding that tech companies take more responsibility for their actions,” said Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland). “The court’s ruling was a gut punch to families across California, but I’m incredibly grateful to Attorney General Bonta for stepping up and fighting back. His decision to appeal sends a clear message: we won’t let tech giants put profits over the safety of our children. I’m more committed than ever to this fight — and I won’t back down until real protections are in place.”

The California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act is a first-in-the-nation law aimed at safeguarding children online. The act requires that businesses that trade in consumers’ personal information and offer products, services, and features likely to be accessed by children proactively protect their young users’ information and prohibits certain actions that involve the collection and use of that information.

Authored by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland) and Assemblymember Jordan Cunningham (R-San Luis Obispo), the California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom on September 15, 2022. The Legislature unanimously passed the law, finding that more needs to be done to create a safer online space for children to learn, explore, and play. Despite businesses’ awareness that children use their services, businesses currently design their online services to include features that may be harmful to children, including manipulative techniques to prod them to spend hours on end online or provide personal information beyond what is expected or necessary. 

A copy of the notice of appeal can be found here

Attorney General Bonta Issues Statement on Trump Administration Tariff Flip-Flop

April 10, 2025
Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued a statement amid concerns that the Trump Administration or people associated with the administration engaged in insider trading or other illegal financial transactions, informed by advanced knowledge of non-public information regarding the President’s changes of tariff policy. On April 9, President Trump's decision to ease most tariffs caused the financial markets to predictably skyrocket after crashing and undergoing wild fluctuations since early April, when global tariffs were announced. 

“The President’s actions and potential profit by associates from the chaos and turmoil that cost Americans trillions of dollars is deeply troubling. California consumers and business are concerned amid this uncertainty — as the fifth largest economy in the world, California understands global trade policy is not a game,” said Attorney General Bonta. “From wreaking havoc on 401(k)s and pension funds to making everyday items more expensive — this game he’s playing has very real consequences for everyday Californians. The possibility that the chaos created by the President could also be lining the pockets of his buddies, donors, or family members is even more unconscionable. My office is monitoring the situation and expects the appropriate agencies to investigate potential insider trading."

Attorney General Bonta Alerts Californians to Job Recruitment Scams

April 10, 2025
Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued a consumer alert asking Californians to be aware of job recruitment scams. Job recruitment scams occur when bad actors trick job seekers into providing money or personal information by posing as employers, recruiters, or job placement agencies. These scams often promise high-paying jobs with urgent hiring, little qualifications, or the opportunity to work from home — and can sometimes be a front to recruit job seekers to assist with criminal activity. Scams can occur through various forms of communication including text messages, phone calls, and postings on online job sites. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), job and fake employment agency scams are one of the top forms of fraud. Losses from these scams have nearly tripled from 2020 to 2024, with consumers losing $501 million in 2024. 

“As job recruiting scams become more popular, I urge Californians to exercise caution and be wary of offers that sound too good to be true,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Remember if a stranger offers you a job you didn’t apply for, it’s most likely a scam."

Learn the Warning Signs

There are many potential signs of a job scam. Be wary if the job posting or email exhibits any of these signs:

  • Asks for money.
  • Asks for you to make purchases on their behalf — such as gift cards.
  • Asks you to share your credit card number or bank details.
  • Asks you to receive or send money or packages for people you don’t know or haven’t met in person.
  • Promises easy money – especially if it involves sending or receiving money or packages.
  • Asks you to open a bank account or cryptocurrency account at someone else’s direction.
  • Claims to offer a “secret” list of government jobs or a chance to get on an inside track for government employment for a fee. Government job listings are always free —find them at jobs.ca.gov, usajobs.gov, or about.usps.com/careers.
  • Lists a company without an established physical office. 
  • Gives a short timeline or puts pressure on you to urgently respond.  

Spot the Scam: What are Money Mules?

Job recruitment scams can also be used to recruit unsuspecting job-seekers, sometimes called money mules, to assist with criminal activity. If someone you don’t know sends you money and asks you to forward or transfer the money, you could be fueling fraud. Transferring money on behalf of others not only furthers criminal activity, but it could also lead to consequences for consumers, like losing money or serving jail time. 

Protect Yourself from Job Scams

If you receive a possible scam message: 

  • DO NOT CLICK ON THE LINK. If you think a text or message could be legitimate, contact the company using a website or phone number you know is real — not the information in the text.
  • Do some research. Search online for the name of the company and words like “review,” “scam,” or “complaint.” If you can’t find the company online, steer clear.
  • File a complaint. File a complaint with the FBI, the Federal Trade Commission, and our office. Be sure to include the phone number from where the text originated, and the website listed within the text.
  • Delete any scam texts or messages received. 

Attorney General Bonta Puts Nine Companies on Notice for Transmitting Illegal Robocall Traffic

April 9, 2025
Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov

Continues fight against annoying and harmful robocalls and robotexts   

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today joined a bipartisan coalition of 51 attorneys general in sending warning letters to nine companies responsible for transmitting substantial robocall traffic, including high-volume robocall campaigns concerning government and financial imposters, credit card interest rate reductions, Medicare scams, political impersonations, cable discount scams, and utility disconnect scams, among others.

“I don’t have to tell Californians that robocalls are annoying and disruptive — but it is important to also remember that many times these calls are illegal and are used to scam unsuspecting people out of their hard-earned money,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Today, my fellow attorneys general and I sent warning letters to companies responsible for facilitating robocalls concerning Medicare, cable discount, and utility scams, among other calls. I am proud to join in this national, bipartisan effort to protect consumers from unwanted robocalls and the risk of financial harm.” 

In the warning letters, Attorney General Bonta and the attorneys general on the nationwide Anti-Robocall Multistate Litigation Task Force (Task Force) warn companies that they must stop transmitting unlawful call traffic immediately, as they violate state and federal laws. If these providers continue to transmit robocalls, the Task Force may pursue further legal actions against these companies and their owners. In the warning letters, the Task Force also informs the providers that it has shared the findings of its investigations with the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Enforcement Bureau.

Warning letters were sent to: 

  • All Access Telecom
  • Lingo Telecom 
  • NGL Communications
  • Range 
  • RSCom Ltd 
  • Telcast Network 
  • Telcentris (known as Voxox) 
  • ThinQ Technologies (known as Commio)
  • Global Net Holdings 

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 March, Attorney General Bonta submitted an amicus brief in support of a FCC rule which would limit unwanted robocalls and robotexts by closing a loophole that bad-acting lead generators try to use to trick a consumer into “consenting” to calls from potentially thousands of companies.

In 2024, Attorney General Bonta: 

  • Sent warning letters to four telecom companies for transmitting suspected illegal robocall traffic on their networks — including robocalls that impersonated government officials or involved scams.
  • Submitted a comment letter to the FCC in support of its proposed rules to protect consumers by increasing the effectiveness of the FCC’s Robocall Mitigation Database.
  • Sent a warning letter to a telecom company responsible for transmitting suspected illegal robocall traffic, including robocalls that impersonated government officials. 
  • Sent a warning letter to a company that allegedly sent New Hampshire residents scam election robocalls during the New Hampshire primary election. 
  • Filed a comment letter to the FCC 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. 

Copies of the letters can be found here.

Attorney General Bonta to the U.S. House of Representatives: Protect American Consumers from Predatory Overdraft Fees

April 9, 2025
Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov

Why would we help the big banks at the expense of working people? 

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today joined 23 attorneys general in sending a letter to the U.S. House of Representatives urging policymakers to reject an effort to overturn a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) rule that would protect American consumers from predatory overdraft fees. If allowed to take effect, this rule will limit overdraft fees to $5 and will save Americans struggling with high prices billions of dollars each year by preventing the largest banks from exploiting consumers in order to rake in profits. Last month, Attorney General Bonta issued a statement after the Senate voted to overturn this rule. 

“High overdraft fees serve no purpose other than to help the wealthy get wealthier, while American families who are already struggling get poorer. Banks aren’t shy about how these fees pad their wallets: a big bank CEO named his yacht Overdraft,” said Attorney General Bonta. “President Trump has promised to make life for Americans affordable — allowing expensive overdraft fees would do the complete and total opposite. Americans are counting on their elected leaders to protect them. My fellow attorneys general and I urge the House, the last line of defense, to protect its constituents’ wallets by voting “no” on the Resolution and preserving the CFPB’s overdraft rule.” 

The largest U.S. banks generate billions of dollars in profits by charging burdensome fees whenever customers overdraft their accounts. In 2023, banks generated $5.8 billion in revenue from overdraft fees. These fees average around $35 for each overdraft — and are applied even where the overdraft is minimal. For example, many consumers have reported paying overdraft charges of over $30 after purchasing a $5 cup of coffee. Overdraft fees are effectively extremely high-interest loans. Most overdrafts are less than $26 and are repaid within three days. That means overdraft protection with a typical $35 fee amounts to a loan with a 16,000% APR. 

Banks can manipulate the timing of deposits and withdrawals to maximize fees, charging customers even when they have enough money for an approved transaction. By creating significant barriers to maintaining a positive account balance, overdraft fees can contribute to involuntary account closures, thereby driving consumers out of the banking system altogether and damaging their credit. 

In submitting today’s letter, Attorney General Bonta joins the attorneys general of New York, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. 

Attorney General Bonta has been an outspoken advocate of the CFPB and its essential work protecting for American consumers and their financial future. 

  • In February, Attorney General Bonta filed amicus briefs (here and here) in lawsuits challenging the Trump Administration’s efforts to dismantle the CFPB, arguing that the shuttering of the agency would cause catastrophic and irreparable harm to consumers nationwide.
  • In April 2024, Attorney General Bonta supported a rule that would close a regulatory loophole that enables banks to extract billions of dollars from consumers by charging overdraft fees without adequately disclosing basic credit terms.
  • In February 2024, Attorney General Bonta warned smaller banks and credit unions that overdraft fees disproportionally penalize lower-income consumers and consumers of color and may violate consumer protection laws.

A copy of the letter can be found here

Attorney General Bonta Announces Settlement with California-Based HomeOptions over Predatory Real Estate Scheme

April 4, 2025
Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov

HomeOptions must terminate all liens and contracts in California and pay over $570,000 in penalties and restitution to homeowners 

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced reaching a settlement with HomeOptions, a realty company based in Oakland that engaged in a predatory real estate scheme impacting over 500 California homeowners, and its Chief Executive Officer. In partnership with Napa County District Attorney Allison Haley and Santa Barbara County District Attorney John T. Savrnoch, Attorney General Bonta launched an investigation into HomeOptions that found the company lured financially vulnerable homeowners with an immediate payment of a couple hundred to a couple thousand dollars in exchange for the exclusive right to be the homeowner’s real estate listing agent for the next 20 years, entered into unlawful contracts with those homeowners, deceptively recorded liens against the homeowners’ homes, and forced homeowners to pay tens of thousands of dollars in illegal fees to remove those liens so that they could transfer title or obtain home loans. HomeOptions misrepresented the nature of its agreements, included unlawful breach and early termination penalty terms in its contracts, and violated California’s Real Estate Law, state and federal telemarketing laws, and federal lending laws. As part of the settlement, HomeOptions has agreed to terminate all liens and contracts in California, pay full restitution to victims, and pay civil penalties. 

“HomeOptions’ business practices can be summed up in one word: predatory. This settlement holds the company accountable and provides immediate relief to California homeowners,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Homeowners will regain full control over their homes, without having to worry about a HomeOptions lien ever again. And homeowners who have already paid early termination penalties to HomeOptions will get all of their money returned. Let there be no doubt that, in California, we will enforce the law against unscrupulous businesses that exploit vulnerable consumers.”

“Napa will not stand mute to the predation of those who victimize our citizenry,” said Napa County District Attorney Allison Haley. “I am gratified that by our action, all the exclusive listing agreements with California consumers are rendered void and unenforceable.”

“Homeowners are entitled to be safe in their homes and not fall prey to scams intended to extract their home equity,” said Santa Barbara County District Attorney John Savrnoch. “This settlement rightly provides full restitution to all victims and prevents HomeOptions and its CEO from engaging in these practices again.” 

The settlement announced today requires HomeOptions to: 

  • Terminate all liens that it recorded on California homeowners’ homes. Because these liens clouded title, homeowners often could not transfer title or obtain home loans without paying HomeOptions to terminate those liens. By requiring termination of all liens, the settlement will likely save impacted homeowners tens of thousands of dollars each.
  • Void all contracts that it entered into with California homeowners. These contracts required homeowners to pay steep fees if they did not use HomeOptions real estate agents. By voiding these contracts and requiring HomeOptions to stop any enforcement or collection efforts on these contracts, the settlement allows homeowners to list their homes with any real estate agent of their choosing and releases them from all obligations and payments to HomeOptions.
  • Pay full restitution, totaling over $400,000, to homeowners who previously paid HomeOptions illegal fees, including to remove their liens.
  • Pay approximately $170,000 in civil penalties.

California has passed legislation to prohibit predatory schemes like the one HomeOptions engaged in. On October 8, 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law AB 1345, which was authored by Assemblymember Gregg Hart (D-Santa Barbara), sponsored by Attorney General Bonta, and went into effect on January 1, 2024. AB 1345 imposes a two-year limit on residential exclusive listing agreements and prohibits the filing of those agreements with a county recorder. HomeOptions ceased entering into California homeowner agreements in 2024. 

A copy of the complaint can be found here. A copy of the stipulated judgment can be found here.

Attorney General Bonta Celebrates Early Win Halting the Destruction of the CFPB

March 28, 2025
Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued the following statement in response to a court granting a preliminary injunction in National Treasury Employees Union v. Vought, a lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration’s efforts to dismantle the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The decision prevents the Trump Administration from further demolishing the agency vital to federal consumer protections while litigation in this case proceeds. Last month, Attorney General Bonta joined a coalition of attorneys general in submitting an amicus brief arguing that the shuttering of the CFPB would cause catastrophic harm to consumer protections nationwide and leave state agencies with the sole responsibility to protect consumers from conduct regulated by the CFPB. 

“The CFPB is the top cop protecting American families who want to buy a home and people who want to borrow money to buy a car or attend college. The CFPB is for everyone. This agency fights for hardworking people who don’t want to get cheated by big banks and predatory lenders and protects a level playing field where businesses can succeed on merit rather than by cutting corners and cheating their customers,” said Attorney General Bonta. “The court order today prevents the Trump Administration from continuing its illegal attempt to destroy the agency looking out for consumers across the country. I celebrate this early win and will continue to use the power of my office to advocate for essential consumer protections nationwide.”

Federal Accountability: 
Consumer

This Will Hurt: Attorney General Bonta Issues Statement on Congress Dumping Rule to Limit Costly Overdraft Fees

March 28, 2025
Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued a statement after Congress overturned a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) rule that would have limited overdraft fees to $5. Currently, banks usually charge $35 for an overdraft. The rule was expected to have saved Americans billions of dollars each year. 

“Congress just voted to increase bank fees, overturning a CFPB rule that would have saved hardworking American families billons a year — this directly harms consumers already struggling with affordability and the ripples of inflation,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Let me be clear: by allowing big banks to charge high overdraft fees, Congress is paving the way for wealthy banks to get wealthier, and for working class people to be squeezed even further.”

Overdraft fees can lead to substantial financial losses for families and turn setbacks into crises. California consumers paid an estimated $200 million in overdraft fees in 2022, with the financial burden disproportionately falling on low-income consumers and consumers of color. Meanwhile, financial institutions nationwide generated over $7.7 billion in revenue from overdraft fees and non-sufficient funds fees in 2022. 

Attorney General Bonta has been a steadfast advocate for consumer protections, including limiting overdraft fees. 

  • Last month, Attorney General Bonta filed amicus briefs (here and here) in lawsuits challenging the Trump Administration’s efforts to dismantle the CFPB, arguing that the shuttering of the agency would cause catastrophic and irreparable harm to consumers nationwide.
  • In April 2024, Attorney General Bonta supported a rule that would close a regulatory loophole that enables banks to extract billions of dollars from consumers by charging overdraft fees without adequately disclosing basic credit terms.
  • In February 2024, Attorney General Bonta warned smaller banks and credit unions that overdraft fees disproportionally penalize lower-income consumers and consumers of color, and may violate consumer protection laws.

Attorney General Bonta, Assemblymember Haney Unveil Legislation to Protect 17 Million Californians From Unfair Rent Fees

April 1, 2025
Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov

AB 1248 seeks to protect tenants from unfair and unpredictable fees  

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta, Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco), and a prominent coalition of organizations today unveiled Assembly Bill 1248 (AB 1248), legislation that seeks to protect tenants from unpredictable and costly housing fees. In recent years, some landlords have adopted the practice of charging separate piecemeal fees in addition to the rent, which can cost tenants hundreds of dollars more each month on top of the base rent. This practice hinders tenants’ financial stability and ability to budget for housing and other needs — and hurts landlords who do not charge these fees by putting them at a competitive disadvantage and creating an unfair marketplace. The practice of charging separate piecemeal fees has become even more rampant since the enactment of California’s Tenant Protection Act (TPA), which provides statewide rent-increase protections. AB 1248 aims to prevent landlords from unbundling housing services — many of which have traditionally been covered by rent — and then charging additional, often mandatory, fees for those services. AB 1248 makes clear that landlords cannot play games with state rent caps by charging fees that amount to shadow rent increases or advertise a deceptively low rent. By prohibiting added fees, AB 1248 will help ensure that tenants’ housing payments remain stable and predictable, and that people can compare true costs when searching for housing within their budget. 

“When landlords tack on fees on top of rent it makes it almost impossible for families to compare housing costs or plan for monthly expenses. As it stands, the scarcity and high cost of housing means California's 17 million renters spend a significant portion of their paychecks on rent, with an estimated 150,000 people at risk of eviction any given month,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “The price of housing should be clear to California tenants in the same way that the cost of a concert ticket or a hotel is clear to California consumers. I thank Assemblymember Haney for introducing legislation to ensure California tenants receive the full protection afforded to them by the Tenant Protection Act. AB 1248 will help Californians’ housing payments remain straightforward, stable, and predictable.”

“Housing costs in California are already high, and added fees only make it harder for renters to budget and stay financially stable. These unfair and unpredictable costs are nothing more than a scam that drives up housing expenses and leaves tenants paying far more than they expected,” said Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco). “AB 1248 ensures fairness by making sure the rent tenants agree to is the rent they actually pay. This bill will help protect Californians from misleading pricing practices and create a more honest and predictable rental market."

"Unfair fees in the rental housing market have exploded in recent years — far too many consumers feel the crushing burden of all these unpredictable fees on a monthly basis," said Robert Herrell, Executive Director of the Consumer Federation of California. "This bill by Assemblymember Haney will dramatically improve consumer protections so renters don't get taken advantage of. We are proud to co-sponsor this bill with Attorney General Bonta and other leading consumer housing advocates."

“Low-income renters need certainty in their monthly rent payments. Most of these tenants are already severely rent-burdened and struggling to retain their housing. The exploitive practice of adding on fees after a lease has already been signed or charging for services that had previously been included in rent makes it even harder for people to stay housed,” said Brian Augusta, Legislative Advocate, California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation. “We are proud to co-sponsor this measure with the Attorney General and the Consumer Federation and thank Assemblymember Haney for authoring it.” 

Co-authored by Attorney General Bonta during his time as a state assemblymember, the Tenant Protection Act (TPA) was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2019. It created significant statewide protections for most tenants, including by limiting rent increases and prohibiting landlords from evicting tenants without just cause. Under the TPA, landlords cannot raise the gross rental rate more than 10% total or 5% plus the percentage change in the cost of living – whichever is lower – over a 12-month period.

Particularly since enactment of the TPA, an increasing number of landlords, including large corporate landlords, are charging tenants a proliferation of separate fees, including for services that should be and have historically been covered by the rent. For example, some landlords charge monthly fees for pest control, “trash concierge” services, and Ratio Utility Billing System (RUBS) fees where tenants are charged for a portion of the building’s utilities, like water and sewer, based on a complex formula with little transparency and that landlords can often change at any time, resulting in charges that can vary widely from month to month. These fees can add up to hundreds of dollars each month on top of rent.

By engaging in this practice, these landlords place significant burdens on tenants, including uncertainty about monthly housing costs due to variable or increasing fees, and create an unfair and confusing marketplace for prospective tenants and honest landlords — particularly small “mom and pop” landlords — who don’t engage in this deceptive pricing practice. If the combination of rent increases and new fees exceed the TPA’s rent cap, these landlords are also violating California law. 

With the number of various fee and fee increases, it may be difficult for tenants to keep track of their monthly payments. When a landlord applies a tenant’s payment to late fees or other obligations before applying it to the rent and then charges a late fee because they consider the rent to not be fully paid, it can create a spiral of rent debt for the tenant, which increases the risk of eviction for nonpayment of rent.

 AB 1248 would: 

  • Require landlords to include all costs in the rent rather than charging separate fees.
  • Create more predictable housing costs for existing tenants by preventing landlords from adding new fees during a tenancy.
  • Require landlords to apply a tenant’s rent payment to their rent first, which will help prevent landlords from creating a debt spiral for tenants.

Text of this legislation can be found here.

Attorney General Bonta Urgently Issues Consumer Alert for 23andMe Customers

March 21, 2025
Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov

Californians have the right to direct the company to delete their genetic data 

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued a consumer alert to customers of 23andMe, a genetic testing and information company. The California-based company has publicly reported that it is in financial distress and stated in securities filings that there is substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Due to the trove of sensitive consumer data 23andMe has amassed, Attorney General Bonta reminds Californians of their right to direct the deletion of their genetic data under the Genetic Information Privacy Act (GIPA) and California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). Californians who want to invoke these rights can do so by going to 23andMe's website. 

“California has robust privacy laws that allow consumers to take control and request that a company delete their genetic data,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Given 23andMe’s reported financial distress, I remind Californians to consider invoking their rights and directing 23andMe to delete their data and destroy any samples of genetic material held by the company.” 

To Delete Genetic Data from 23andMe:

  1. Consumers can delete their account and personal information by taking the following steps:
  2. Log into your 23andMe account on their website. 
  3. Go to the “Settings” section of your profile.
  4. Scroll to a section labeled “23andMe Data” at the bottom of the page. 
  5. Click “View” next to “23andMe Data”
  6. Download your data: If you want a copy of your genetic data for personal storage, choose the option to download it to your device before proceeding.
  7. Scroll to the “Delete Data” section. 
  8. Click “Permanently Delete Data.” 
  9. Confirm your request: You’ll receive an email from 23andMe; follow the link in the email to confirm your deletion request.

To Destroy Your 23andMe Test Sample:

If you previously opted to have your saliva sample and DNA stored by 23andMe, but want to change that preference, you can do so from your account settings page, under “Preferences.”

To Revoke Permission for Your Genetic Data to be Used for Research:

If you previously consented to 23andMe and third-party researchers to use your genetic data and sample for research, you may withdraw consent from the account settings page, under “Research and Product Consents.”

Under GIPA, California consumers can delete their account and genetic data and have their biological sample destroyed. In addition, GIPA permits California consumers to revoke consent that they provided a genetic testing company to collect, use, and disclose genetic data and to store biological samples after the initial testing has been completed. The CCPA also vests California consumers with the right to delete personal information, which includes genetic data, from businesses that collect personal information from the consumer.   

To learn more about the CCPA, please visit here.