When California passed AB 566, the "Opt Me Out Act," in October 2025, the tech world barely noticed. The law seemed straightforward enough: starting January 2027, browsers must include easy-to-use opt-out signals that let users tell websites not to sell their data. Chrome, Safari, Firefox—those companies would need to add a feature. Simple.
But here's where it gets interesting. The law defines "browser" as "an interactive software application that is used by consumers to locate, access, and navigate internet websites." Not "Chrome and similar applications." Not "software primarily designed for web navigation." Just any interactive software application that consumers use to navigate the web.
Which raises an uncomfortable question for a lot of companies: is Reddit a browser?
