Attorney General Kamala Harris said Thursday she is forming a new group within the state's Justice Department, the Privacy Enforcement and Protection Unit, to oversee privacy issues and prosecute companies that run afoul of the state's strict privacy laws.

The new unit's impact could extend beyond California, because it will police not just companies based in the state but all companies that do business there.

"This means that their privacy practices are going to be scrutinized a lot more by the Attorney General's office," , said in an interview.

"We are going to do outreach to companies, to make sure they know their obligations," he said. "And make sure that when there are violations of California privacy laws, we will enforce them."

The unit will also perform outreach and education campaigns for state residents.