Guzzetta Examines CIPA Reform and Plaintiffs’ Shifting Strategies in CEB

10.12.2026

Stinson LLP Of Counsel Joseph W. Guzzetta was interviewed by CEB, a publication of the University of Los Angeles' Continuing Education of the Bar, "CIPA Amendment Offers Businesses Narrow Relief as Plaintiffs Shift Focus." The article examines the impact of newly signed California privacy legislation and the strategies plaintiffs are adopting in response.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed SB 690 on Sept. 30, 2026, amending the California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA), a 1967 law that has become a frequent basis for lawsuits alleging that online marketing and analytics tools track website visitors without consent. The original legislative proposal would have exempted commercial business practices from CIPA's scope entirely, but the final bill was narrowed to remove the private right of action only for claims involving pen registers and trap-and-trace devices. Guzzetta noted that the broader version of the bill "probably would have largely eliminated CIPA litigation related to online tracking that we are seeing now."

Guzzetta cautions that despite the amendment, liability risks remain for businesses as plaintiffs' attorneys pivot their CIPA claims to provisions that prohibit wiretapping without consent. However, he sees hope in the strong signing statement that Newsom issued in enacting the legislation. "The hope, I think from the corporate perspective, is that the legislature may take that as a green light" to further amend CIPA, Guzzetta said.

Guzzetta focuses his practice on privacy and data security law, advising clients on compliance with complex domestic and international regulatory frameworks. He is the author of The Rutter Group’s California Practice Guide: Privacy Law, which was cited by the California Court of Appeals in a landmark ruling involving the California Privacy Protection Agency's enforcement authority under the California Privacy Rights Act. He brings more than 20 years of litigation experience representing clients in courts across California.

To read the full interview, sign into CEB.