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On Friday, we announced a historic $12.75 million settlement against General Motors for illegally retaining and selling hundreds of thousands of Californians’ location and driving data to data brokers.
Driving data reveals a wealth of information about a person's everyday habits and movements, which is why consumers must be in the driver’s seat when it comes to their data privacy.
GM violated the law and its own policy when it kept consumer data long after it was needed and sold it without consumer knowledge or consent despite numerous reassurances that the company would not do exactly that. Now we’re holding them accountable with the largest California Consumer Protection Act penalty in state history.
You can be sure that if we get word that a company is illegally collecting, storing, or selling consumer data, we won’t hesitate to look under the hood and hold them accountable to the law.
In your service,
Rob
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 With the June 2, 2026, Primary Election less than a month away, my office and the Secretary of State’s office reminded Californians about their voting rights, encouraged Californians to vote early, and advised law enforcement agencies about laws protecting the integrity of the electoral process. I want every Californian to have their vote counted, and the best way to make sure that happens is to vote early. Postal delivery timelines have changed, and mailing your ballot on Election Day could mean it arrives too late. If you’re mailing it that day, ask the post office for a postmark. Or better yet, use a secure drop box or vote center ahead of time.
For up-to-date information on how to vote, check official websites, including sos.ca.gov/elections. Eligible Californians have until Monday, May 18 to register to vote at registertovote.ca.gov, or if after the deadline, register in-person through Same Day Voter Registration.
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 This week, my office announced a settlement with Agri Stats, Inc., resolving allegations that the company facilitated an information exchange between meat producers and processors that increased meat prices for Americans. The settlement resolves a lawsuit filed by California as part of a bipartisan group of attorneys general and U.S. DOJ that alleged that Agri Stats violated antitrust law and raised meat prices for American families. Thanks to our settlement, the markets for chicken, pork, and turkey meats will have more price competition. I’m proud to have put an end to a scheme that drove up prices on the backs of everyday Californians. My office is deeply committed to going after antitrust violations and working to make life more affordable for Californians.
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Striking Down Trump's Unlawful Tariffs
 This week, the Court of International Trade declared the Trump Administration’s second tariff regime illegal, delivering another major victory for American consumers and small businesses nationwide. The court granted summary judgment in a case brought by California and a multistate coalition, striking down President Trump’s proclamation imposing global tariffs using Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. The President’s illegal tariffs increased prices amid a crisis of affordability and inflicted chaos on the American economy. California has challenged these unlawful taxes time and time again because we stand with businesses, consumers, and families across the state and nation who are already struggling with rising costs. This is a big win for American businesses and families that have been harmed by the President’s reckless and illegal tariffs.
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 After nearly 30 years, a California DOJ crime analyst’s discovery of a buried clue led to Manuel Banuelos’ location and subsequent sentencing after decades of evading law enforcement for killing his neighbor. This analyst’s work didn’t just solve a case, it brought justice and a measure of closure to a grieving family. This case proves that the work done behind the scenes can change lives, strengthen communities, and reaffirm our shared belief that justice will be served.
On December 1, 1996, in the city of Bell Gardens, Banuelos shot and killed his neighbor, Ernesto Tapia, after an ongoing dispute. Although an arrest warrant was issued, the case eventually went cold, leaving the victim’s family without answers and justice delayed for many years. Nearly 30 years later, the case was revisited and a crime analyst uncovered a critical lead. The analyst identified a 911 call made in Arizona in which Banuelos used his true name and date of birth on August 5, 2023. The discovery of the 911 call ultimately led to Banuelos’ location after decades of evading law enforcement. On October 9, 2024, he was arrested by members of the Arizona Department of Public Safety. On April 23, 2026, following court proceedings, Banuelos was found guilty and sentenced to 10 years in prison for involuntary manslaughter.
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Making Your Life Affordable
 From groceries to gas, costs seem to be rising and rising ... and rising. California DOJ has your back and is committed to protecting California families grappling with the high cost of living. In this segment, find some of the ways California DOJ is protecting Californians — and their wallets.
Hot Tip: Remember to appropriately vet contractors, lawyers, financial advisors, and other people or companies before hiring them.
What We Did: California DOJ has a web page to help consumers find out how to assess people they hire — including information on how to check a company’s background and ensure applicable professionals are appropriately registered and/or licensed — including contractors, travel agents, moving companies, lawyers, and financial professionals.
What This Means to You: That kitchen add-on taking forever? Ghosted by your newly hired, already paid travel agent? Learning how to investigate a company’s background or ensure a professional is properly licensed to perform a service can save you and your family time, money, and quite a few headaches. Hiring improperly licensed people can make consumers vulnerable to scams, fraud, or receiving poorly performed services. Facing a problem with a business? California consumers can always submit complaints to our office at oag.ca.gov/report.
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Keeping You Safe
 Once again, the Trump Administration is recklessly disregarding the safety of the people it is sworn to serve. As part of a coalition of 22 attorneys general, my office submitted a comment letter opposing an unlawful proposal by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to allow anyone to ship a handgun — without the involvement of a licensed firearms dealer — across or within state borders by mail. For almost 100 years, federal law has barred this unregulated shipment of handguns through USPS. But in January, the Trump Administration decided to stop defending the federal law against a constitutional challenge filed by gun rights groups and instead issued an opinion that the statute is unconstitutional. On April 2, the USPS published a proposed rule to conform with this opinion even though the Trump Administration cannot unilaterally direct the USPS to violate a valid federal law. We cannot ignore the dangerous consequences of this proposed rule, which could open the door for prohibited individuals to obtain weapons without background checks or regard for state firearms laws. This irresponsible loophole blatantly disregards public safety and would create a direct strain on state resources. At a time when budgets are already under pressure, we should be investing in safeguards, not creating new pathways for illegal firearms to reach our communities.
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CARE Corner
 May is Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month and Greater Sacramento and Central Valley Community Outreach Manager Efrain Botello-Cisneros attended a meet and greet with The Central Valley Asian American and Pacific Islander Solidarity Table. This group is comprised of South Asian, Filipino, Pacific Islander, Hmong, and Southeast Asian serving organizations that work together to build power collectively in the Central Valley to promote social justice among AAPI communities.
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Post of the Week
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Video of the Week
 This week, people across the nation wore red to raise awareness about the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People.
Watch to hear from Office of Native American Affairs Director Janet Bill about the MMIP crisis and what inspired her to become an advocate.
California DOJ is committed to working with Tribal leadership to combat the MMIP crisis and enhance public safety on Tribal lands.
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Make a Difference at California DOJ
 Apply today to help California DOJ protect the health, well-being, and public safety of Californians. Check out our featured jobs below and visit oag.ca.gov/careers for a full listing of available positions:
Deputy Attorney General IV, Charitable Trusts
Deputy Attorney General IV, Employment Law
Deputy Attorney General III, Correctional Law
Deputy Attorney General IV, Police Practices
Deputy Attorney General IV, Public Records Act Unit
Sr. Project Manager, Enterprise Services Bureau
Legal Secretary, Legal Support Operations
Investigative Auditor IV Supervisor, Cybercrime Section
Crime Analyst Supervisor, Investigative Services Branch
Contract Administrator, PRD Executive Unit
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