Are companies required to get opt-in consent under the CCPA before using personal data?

No.

The CCPA does not require that a company obtain the consent (or the “opt-in”) of a person before collecting or using their personal information.  The concept of consent only arises within the CCPA if a company intends to sell information.  In that context, consent applies in three situations:

  1. Exemption from the definition of “sale.” The CCPA’s broad definition of “sale” could encompass a number of ordinary information transfers that consumers would hardly consider to be a “sale” as the term is generally understood.  The CCPA exempts from the definition of “sale” any transfer that takes place because the “consumer uses or directs the business” to “intentionally disclose personal information” to a third party.1  In other words, if a consumer consents, or opts-in, to an information transfer it is not considered a “sale” under the CCPA.2
  2. Sale of information about minors. The CCPA prohibits a business from knowingly selling the personal information of a consumer that is “less than 16 years of age” unless the consumer (in the case of individuals between 13 and 16) or the guardian (in the case of individuals under the age of 13) has “affirmatively authorized the sale” of personal information.3 In other words, opt-in consent is needed to sell the information of a minor.  Interestingly, if a business obtained the affirmative consent to transfer personal information, as discussed in the previous paragraph technically the information transfer might not be a “sale” at all.
  3. Re-soliciting the ability to sell. The CCPA states that if a person opts-out of the sale of information (E.g., click a “Do Not Sell My Personal Information” link) a business is not permitted to solicit their consent (or opt-in) to a future sale for “at least 12 months.”4