Ed Chau

Early life and education

Chau was born in Hong Kong in 1957 and grew up in Los Angeles. He holds a B.A. in sociology and a B.S. in computer science from the University of Southern California. He also received a J.D. from Southwestern University School of Law.

California State Assembly

In June, 2021, Chau was appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly to serve as the Assistant Majority Leader. Prior to the appointment, Chau served as the Chairman of the Assembly Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection from 2016 to 2021. Previously, he was the Chairman of the Assembly Committee on Housing and Community Development. Chau also served as a member of the following standing committees: Appropriations, Judiciary, Jobs, Economic Development and the Economy, Natural Resources, and Privacy and Consumer Protection.

In addition, Chau was the Chairman of the Assembly Select Committee on Emerging Technologies and Innovation. As Chair, he had convened informational hearings on the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence, Facial Recognition Technology, 5-G Technology, and Mobile Applications, among others. He was also a member of the following Select Committees: Asia/California Trade and Investment Promotion, California's Clean Energy Economy, Cybersecurity, and Regional Transportation Solutions.

In 2018, Chau introduced and passed the landmark privacy law, alongside Senator Robert Hertzberg, the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (CCPA), giving California consumers significant control over the collection, use and processing of their personal information. The law, considered the most comprehensive privacy law in the nation, has frequently been compared to the European Union landmark privacy law, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

In addition, Chau passed a law that would require data brokers to publicly register with the Attorney General's office, providing Californians transparent information about who is collecting their personal information. Other laws passed by Chau include prohibiting the sale, purchase and use of hacked data; making it a crime to assist in soliciting another to commit hacking; requiring credit reporting agencies to fix vulnerabilities regarding data breaches; protecting individuals' privacy from devices like drones; authorizing the California Military Department to conduct cybersecurity assessments in schools; requiring disclosure of a data breach to California residents when the encryption key is lost; and authorizing local governments to provide broadband services, while adhering to “net neutrality rules”. Chau also introduced legislation to safeguard personal data collected by digital health trackers. as well as address biases in the use of automated artificial intelligence systems.

Moreover, Chau passed laws to help curb climate change; protect water resources through groundwater cleanup funding; combat wild fires through forest management; protect seniors against elder abuse; require Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) to receive training on how to interact with dementia patients and their caregivers; mandate advance notice before increasing life insurance costs on consumers; ensure that students in California receive instruction on the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and the contributions made by Chinese Americans in establishing the Transcontinental Railroad; protect students by removing from classrooms teachers charged with a sex offense; safeguard children from cyber sexual bullying; prohibit the online marketing of cannabis products or services to minors; and legally protect Good Samaritans that break into hot vehicles to rescue children.

Chau also passed a number of legislative measures to address the housing crisis; assist with language access in hospital settings and the language accessibility needs of voters; and to help small business owners facing frivolous lawsuits.

Electoral history

2012 California State Assembly

2014 California State Assembly

2016 California State Assembly

2018 California State Assembly

2020 California State Assembly

References

References

1. "Full Biography for Edwin "Ed" Chau".
2. "Governor Newsom Announces Judicial Appointments 11.29.21".
3. "Biography". California State Assembly.
4. "Speaker Rendon Announces Leadership Team, Committee Chairs {{!}} Official Website - Speaker Anthony Rendon Representing the 63rd California Assembly District".
5. "California Assembly announces committee chairs".
6. (2019-12-30). "California's groundbreaking privacy law takes effect in January. What does it do?".
7. "California to Create Data Broker Registry, Fines for Failure".
8. "Bill Text - AB-1391 Unlawfully obtained data.".
9. "Bill Text - AB-195 Unauthorized access to computer systems.".
10. "Bill Text - AB-1859 Customer records.".
11. "Bill Text - AB-2306 Constructive invasion of privacy: liability.".
12. (2014-08-20). "Editorial: How to protect celebrities from paparazzi drones".
13. "Bill Text - AB-1352 Independent information security assessments: Military Department: local educational agencies.".
14. (2021-10-13). "Calif. Military Dept. to Conduct School Security Assessments".
15. "Bill Text - AB-2828 Personal information: privacy: breach.".
16. "Bill Text - AB-1999 Local government: public broadband services.".
17. "Bill Text - AB-2167 Information privacy: digital health feedback systems.".
18. "Bill Text - AB-384 Information privacy: digital health feedback systems.".
19. "Bill Text - AB-2280 Information privacy: personal health record information: software or hardware.".
20. "Bill Text - AB-1252 Information privacy: digital health feedback systems.".
21. "Bill Text - AB-739 State vehicle fleet: purchases.".
22. "Bill Text - AB-39 California-China Climate Institute.".
23. "Bill Text - AB-1043 Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2006: groundwater contamination.".
24. "Bill Text - AB-697 Forest resources: national forest lands: Good Neighbor Authority Fund: ecological restoration and fire resiliency projects.".
25. "Bill Text - AB-381 Estates and trusts: undue influence and elder abuse.".
26. "Bill Text - AB-453 Emergency medical services: training.".
27. "Bill Text - AB-2634 Life insurance.".
28. "Bill Text - AB-2864 Pupil instruction: Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882: Chinese Americans’ contributions to establishment of transcontinental railroad.".
29. "Bill Text - AB-872 School employees: employment: sex offenses.".
30. "Bill Text - AB-2536 Pupil discipline and safety: cyber sexual bullying.".
31. "Bill Text - AB-3067 Internet: marketing: minors: cannabis.".
32. "Bill Text - AB-2717 Motor vehicles: unattended children: liability.".
33. (2020-10-01). "Hot Car Rescues: New CA Law Protects Good Samaritans".
34. "Bill Text - AB-984 The California Housing Finance Agency.".
35. "Bill Text - AB-569 Real property: divided lands.".
36. "Bill Text - AB-744 Planning and zoning: density bonuses.".
37. "Bill Text - AB-389 Hospitals: language assistance services.".
38. "Bill Text - AB-1443 Voters: language accessibility.".
39. "Bill Text - AB-1583 Proposition 65: enforcement: certificate of merit: factual basis.".