California Proposition 11 (1972)

Proposition 11, sometimes known as the "Privacy Initiative" or the "Right to Privacy Initiative", was a ballot initiative to amend the constitution of the state of California to include privacy as an inalienable right to citizens in "Article 1: Declaration of Rights" of the constitution.

The Proposition was co-authored by California State Assemblyman Kenneth Cory (D-Garden Grove) and California State Senator George Moscone (D-San Francisco) as a protective measure against government agencies collecting personal information from citizens.cite news |last=Blake |first=Gene |title=Prop. 11 Adds Privacy to Peoples' Rights in California Constitution |page=C7 |publisher=Los Angeles Times |date=1972-10-18 |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/650644142.html?dids=650644142:650644142&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Oct+18%2C+1972&author=GENE+BLAKE&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=Prop.+11+Adds+Privacy+to+Peoples'+Rights+in+California+Constitution&pqatl=google
accessdate=2008-06-04 ] Assemblyman Cory also expressed specific concern for privacy due to the potential threat that new technology had on compromising privacy. cite news |last=Blake |first=Gene |title=Prop. 11 Adds Privacy to Peoples' Rights in California Constitution |page=C7 |publisher=Los Angeles Times |date=1972-10-18 |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/650644142.html?dids=650644142:650644142&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Oct+18%2C+1972&author=GENE+BLAKE&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=Prop.+11+Adds+Privacy+to+Peoples'+Rights+in+California+Constitution&pqatl=google
accessdate=2008-06-04 ] Opponents of the measure argued that such an initiative was unnecessary since the courts and State Legislature already had the power to address issues of privacy.cite news |last=Blake |first=Gene |title=Prop. 11 Adds Privacy to Peoples' Rights in California Constitution |page=C7 |publisher=Los Angeles Times |date=1972-10-18 |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/650644142.html?dids=650644142:650644142&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Oct+18%2C+1972&author=GENE+BLAKE&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=Prop.+11+Adds+Privacy+to+Peoples'+Rights+in+California+Constitution&pqatl=google
accessdate=2008-06-04 ]

On November 7, 1972, the proposition overwhelmingly passed and consequently resulted in explicit references to privacy in the California State Constitution. [cite book |last=Grodin |first=Joseph R. |coauthors=Calvin R. Massey, Richard B. Cunningham |title=The California State Constitution: A Reference Guide |publisher=Greenwood Press |location=Westport, CT |date=1993 |pages=23-24 |doi=10.1336/031327228X |isbn=031327228X ]

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