Newsom Wants Users to Profit from Online Data

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – California Gov. Gavin Newsom says the state’s consumers should get a piece of the billions of dollars that technology companies make off the personal data they collect.

The new governor provided no details about the so-called data dividend that he mentioned in his State of the State address Tuesday. The Democrat only said he’s asked aides to develop a proposal.

Newsom’s office could provide no other information, including whether he’s suggesting a tax on tech companies or an individual refund to their customers.

Common Sense Media helped pass California’s nation-leading digital privacy law last year and plans to propose legislation in coming weeks that would reflect Newsom’s proposal.

California-based Facebook and Google aren’t commenting on the idea.