California lawmakers fast-track bill that would require online sellers to verify their identity

abcnews.go.com:

California Democratic lawmakers are fast-tracking a bill aiming to crack down on resellers of stolen goods

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A California bill that would require marketplaces like eBay and Nextdoor to start collecting bank accounts and tax identification numbers from high-volume sellers who advertise online but collect payments offline was fast-tracked by Democratic lawmakers with committees voting on it Tuesday.

The idea is that thieves will be less likely to resell stolen merchandise if authorities can track them down.

The measure is part of a legislative package of 14 bills to combat retail theft in the state. The California Retailers Association has said the issue has reached crisis levels, though it’s challenging to quantify because many stores don’t share their data.

Proponents, including district attorneys and some big box retailers, said the data collection proposal would shut down organized theft rings seeking to resell stolen goods and would close a loophole in existing laws that don’t require platforms to track offline transactions.

The rules under the bill would apply to sellers who make at least $5,000 profit and engage in at least 200 transactions in a year.

Opponents say the measure's new requirement is so broad and vague that some platforms would have to start collecting sensitive information from all users, harming California's e-commerce businesses.

“This is basically going to force businesses out of California,” said David Edmonson of TechNet, a technology advocacy group. “I imagine most sellers will have to think long and hard about whether or not they want to provide that information to the online marketplace just to be able to sell, you know, household products.”

Nathan Garnett, general