CCPA
California regulation granting residents rights over personal information
WCAG
International standard for web content accessibility.
Quick Verdict
CCPA mandates consumer data rights for California businesses, enforcing privacy via fines and audits. WCAG provides voluntary web accessibility guidelines to ensure usability for disabled users. Companies adopt CCPA for legal compliance, WCAG to mitigate ADA lawsuits and expand market reach.
CCPA
California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA/CPRA)
Key Features
- Grants consumers rights to know, delete, opt-out, correct PI
- Applies to businesses meeting $25M revenue or 100K data thresholds
- Mandates notices at collection and Do Not Sell/Share links
- Requires honoring Global Privacy Control opt-out signals
- Enforces with $7,500 per intentional violation fines
WCAG
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.2
Key Features
- POUR principles: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, Robust
- Testable success criteria at A, AA, AAA levels
- Technology-agnostic and backward-compatible design
- Conformance requires full pages and complete processes
- Informative techniques and Quick Reference tools
Detailed Analysis
A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.
CCPA Details
What It Is
The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), is a state regulation establishing consumer privacy rights for California residents. It targets for-profit businesses meeting thresholds like $25M revenue or handling 100K+ consumers' data. Primary purpose: empower consumers with control over personal information (PI) via rights-based approach, including opt-outs and data minimization.
Key Components
- Core consumer rights: know/access, delete, opt-out sales/sharing, correct, limit sensitive PI
- Obligations: notices at collection, privacy policies, vendor contracts, GPC honoring
- Enforcement by CPPA and AG with $2,500-$7,500 per violation fines; private breach actions
- No certification; compliance via audits and demonstrable processes
Why Organizations Use It
Mandatory for qualifying businesses to avoid fines, litigation, reputational harm. Strategic benefits: builds trust, reduces data risks, enables market access, aligns with GDPR-like regimes, yields efficiency via governance.
Implementation Overview
Phased: scoping/gap analysis (0-3 months), policies/contracts (1-4 months), technical controls (2-6 months), operationalization/training, ongoing audits. Applies globally to CA data handlers; cross-functional, tech-heavy for enterprises.
WCAG Details
What It Is
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) is a W3C recommendation and global standard for making web content accessible to people with disabilities. Its primary purpose is to provide testable success criteria ensuring content is perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust. WCAG uses a layered, technology-agnostic approach with principles, guidelines, and normative criteria.
Key Components
- **Four POUR principlesPerceivable, Operable, Understandable, Robust.
- 13 guidelines and ~80 success criteria at Levels A, AA, AAA (AA most common target).
- Informative techniques, understanding docs, and Quick Reference.
- Conformance model requires full pages, complete processes, accessibility-supported tech, non-interference.
Why Organizations Use It
- Meets legal benchmarks (ADA, Section 508, EN 301 549, EAA).
- Reduces litigation risk, improves UX/SEO, expands market reach.
- Enhances reputation, procurement eligibility, conversion rates.
Implementation Overview
- Phased: assessment, remediation, training, CI/CD integration, audits.
- Applies to all org sizes/industries with web content; global scope.
- No formal certification; self-assessed conformance claims via VPATs, audits.
Key Differences
| Aspect | CCPA | WCAG |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Consumer data privacy rights and obligations | Web content accessibility for disabilities |
| Industry | For-profits meeting CA thresholds, global reach | All web-publishing organizations worldwide |
| Nature | Mandatory CA regulation with enforcement | Voluntary W3C technical guidelines |
| Testing | Data mapping, DSAR workflows, audits | Automated scans, manual AT testing, audits |
| Penalties | $2,500-$7,500 per violation, private actions | Litigation under ADA, no direct fines |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about CCPA and WCAG
CCPA FAQ
WCAG FAQ
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