In the second privacy-related case to be denied review by the Supreme Court (SCOTUS) today, the court denied review of the California Financial Information Privacy Act. The law provides consumers with greater privacy safeguards for financial data by requiring opt-in for sharing of information, easy-to-find and use opt-out provisions, and limitations on the sale of personal information to affiliates. The American Bankers’ Association and others had challenged the law, but the Ninth Circuit upheld (pdf) substantial portions of the law.
It is somewhat intriguing that other than the strip search case, this court did not actually issue any rulings that affirm privacy rights or protections. Its biggest contribution to privacy seems to be not getting involved in cases where privacy prevailed at the appellate level.