SACRAMENTO, CA — On Tuesday, August 8th, Margaret Gladstein, partner with Capitol Advocacy, will be a panelist at the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Cybersecurity Task Force panel regarding the “Internet of Things”.
The panel will focus on the “Internet of Things” or IoT, which is the interconnection of devices that communicate wirelessly and send and receive data via the internet. From connected toys to household appliances and medical devices, this technology has the potential to revolutionize the way we work and live. Several states, including California, have tried to place restrictions on these products.
“Margaret is California’s premiere privacy lobbyist,” said Bill Dombrowski, President of the California Retailers Association. “For decades, Margaret has been at the forefront of California’s groundbreaking privacy laws. Her deep understanding of the issue and her tireless work in this area have protected our member companies’ ability to use proprietary customer information in a way that benefits customers and the businesses they frequent.”
Gladstein led the coalition of business groups, security experts, technology associations, and other stakeholders to defeat Senate Bill (SB) 327 by Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson. This measure would have forced manufacturers to redesign everything from teddy bears and toasters to cars, health monitoring devices and more. After a strong lobbying effort, Senator Jackson dropped the bill, deciding not to present it for a vote on the Senate floor. While SB 327 is dead for the year, the bill is still eligible for consideration next year.
“California is often the first in the nation to legislate on a variety of issues – including privacy,” said Gladstein. “I’m eager to offer insight to legislators from around the country, cybersecurity professionals, and businesses who may be facing legislation in other states at the NCSL Conference with hopes that legislation across the country will not be broadly implemented, running counter to the Federal Government’s IoT Initiatives.”
Capitol Advocacy, LLC has been consistently ranked as one of California’s top five lobbying firms. With a presence in both Sacramento and Southern California, Capitol Advocacy’s eight registered lobbyists specialize in lobbying, strategic planning, coalition building, budget advocacy, procurement, and political involvement.
