In light of growing concerns about online privacy, residents in certain states have been granted the right to opt out of targeted advertising, selling, and sharing of personal information. To ensure transparency, companies are providing notices to their users about their privacy practices, allowing them to make informed decisions about their data.

One such company, the Walt Disney Family of Companies, has recently issued a Notice of Right to Opt Out of Sale/Sharing. According to the notice, users can visit their respective US state privacy rights webpage, including the Your California Privacy Rights section, for detailed information about their individual rights and the company's privacy practices.

At the core of this initiative lies the use of cookies, which are essential for the company's services to function properly. However, these cookies may also enable targeted advertising, selling, or sharing of personal information with third parties. To address this issue, users or their authorized agents can toggle a switch to opt out of these activities on the Walt Disney Family of Companies' digital properties, adhering to applicable laws.

It's important to note that this opt-out choice is specific to the Walt Disney Family of Companies' digital properties. If users access other digital properties within the company, they will need to make their opt-out election for each individual property. Additionally, clearing cookies, switching browsers or devices may require users to opt out again on the specific property.

Users also have the option to provide additional information through an opt-out form, allowing the company to take a broader approach in honoring their opt-out election. Those seeking an even more comprehensive solution can enable online tools like the Global Privacy Control ("GPC"). By processing the GPC signal as a request to opt out, users can protect their privacy across various platforms.

However, it's essential to understand that opting out may not completely eliminate advertising. Users may still see ads, including those based on personal information processed before opting out. To further safeguard their privacy, users are encouraged to exercise their opt-out rights with third-party entities by utilizing resources such as the IAB opt-out list or other available tools to limit interest-based advertising or tracking.

In the fight for online privacy, the ability to opt out of targeted advertising and sharing serves as a significant step forward in empowering individuals to protect their personal information. As more companies acknowledge the importance of user privacy, it is crucial for individuals to be aware of their rights and take appropriate action to safeguard their data.