California Privacy Leader’s Goal: More Fines, Corporate Scrutiny

The enforcement head of California’s privacy agency doesn’t like to lay out its priorities publicly—he wants everyone on high alert.

The agency, known as CalPrivacy, has spent the last three years bringing cases and millions in fines against retail giants like Ford Motor Co., American Honda Motor Co., and Todd Snyder Inc., as well as less well-known data brokers and brands.

Michael Macko, the agency’s deputy director of enforcement, said CalPrivacy is just getting started. Armed with a bolstered staff, new data broker registry requirements, and a first-of-its-kind privacy auditing function, the agency aims to ramp ...