Opaque Transparency: Why California's Supply Chain Transparency Act is Unenforceable

18 Pages Posted: 12 Dec 2017 Last revised: 6 Feb 2018

See all articles by Benjamin Thomas Greer

Benjamin Thomas Greer

California Govenor's Office of Emergency Services - Specialized Training Institute (CSTI); University of Cambridge’s Centre for Applied Research in Human Trafficking (CCARHT); Global Resource Epicenter Against human Trafficking (GREAT); California Polytechnic State University’s (CalPoly) California Cybersecurity Institute’s Anti-Trafficking Virtual Reality Immersion Training (ATVRIT)

Date Written: December 4, 2017

Abstract

English Abstract: Traffickers are dynamic, fluid operators; they react well to consumer demand and to under-regulated economic sectors, and easily adapt to exploiting weaknesses in prevailing laws. Corporate globalization of storefronts and extensive manufacturing supply chains have contributed to human trafficking becoming the fastest growing criminal enterprise in the world. California’s legislative and social experiments are often models other governments look to for guidance. California is the first government to require businesses to disclose their anti-trafficking supply chain policies to their consumers. Under the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act of 2010 (CTSCA), large retailer sellers must conspicuously disclose on their web site their policies, if any, to detect and fight slave labor within their supply chain. This article explores the requirements of the CTSCA and will examine the legal effectiveness of the California transparency framework.

Spanish Abstract: Los traficantes son agentes dinámicos, de gran fluidez: reaccionan bien a la demanda de los consumidores y a los sectores económicos sin regular, y se adaptan fácilmente para explotar las debilidades de las leyes vigentes. La globalización corporativa de los comercios y de las grandes cadenas de suministro ha contribuido a que el tráfico de personas se haya convertido en el negocio criminal de crecimiento más rápido en el mundo. Los experimentos legislativos y sociales de California son a menudo un modelo en el que se fijan otros gobiernos. El gobierno de California ha sido el primero en exigir que los negocios revelen a sus clientes su política anti-tráfico. El llamado California Transparency in Supply Chains Act (CATSCA), de 2010, obliga a los mayoristas a publicar en sus sitios web, de forma preeminente, las políticas que puedan seguir para detectar y combatir el trabajo en esclavitud dentro de su cadena de suministro. Este artículo explora los requisitos del CATSCA y examina la efectividad legal de las normas sobre transparencia de California.

Keywords: Human trafficking, supply chain transparency, California Forced Labor, SB657, Tráfico de personas, transparencia de la cadena de suministro, trabajo forzado en California;

Suggested Citation

Greer, Benjamin Thomas, Opaque Transparency: Why California's Supply Chain Transparency Act is Unenforceable (December 4, 2017). Oñati Socio-Legal Series, Vol. 8, No. 1, 2018, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3082186

Benjamin Thomas Greer (Contact Author)

California Govenor's Office of Emergency Services - Specialized Training Institute (CSTI) ( email )

Mather, CA
United States

University of Cambridge’s Centre for Applied Research in Human Trafficking (CCARHT) ( email )

Global Resource Epicenter Against human Trafficking (GREAT) ( email )

California Polytechnic State University’s (CalPoly) California Cybersecurity Institute’s Anti-Trafficking Virtual Reality Immersion Training (ATVRIT) ( email )

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