Two data brokers, Mobilewalla and Gravy Analytics, have been banned from collecting and selling certain private location data of Americans by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). This includes sensitive data linked to:
- Churches
- Healthcare institutions
- Military locations
- Schools
Security leaders weigh in
Erich Kron, Security Awareness Advocate at KnowBe4:
The collection of data on individuals has become a very controversial topic for many and is not being helped by the repeated failures to protect the sensitive information being collected by these organizations. Restricting the collection of things like location information is an important step, especially for those in professions where the disclosure of this information could be a danger to them and their families or might make them a target of hate groups due to religious or other affiliations.”
“Unfortunately, we live in a time where we rely on the convenience provided by cell phones, connected vehicles and other devices that have the ability to track location through GPS or other means, and this information can easily be misused by bad actors. As more and more data is collected, and as more and more organizations that collect this information are breached or leave information open to the public internet accidentally, regulatory authorities will be forced to address the issues for the good of the American public.
Paul Bischoff, Consumer Privacy Advocate at Comparitech:
This breach shows how mobile advertising IDs, which are often touted as non-identifying, can in fact be used to identify and track specific people. The threat of this data being sold goes beyond the usual threats of phishing and scams. It enables stalking, harassment, and domestic abuse. The FTC made the right call in banning data brokers from selling location info.
Chris Hauk, Consumer Privacy Champion at Pixel Privacy:
While I applaud any limits on information that can be tracked, I particularly like it when any type of geographical location tracking has limitations placed on it. This type of tracking makes it too easy for users to be stalked, both online and in real life, by those that may wish to do them harm. It also provides too much information to government agencies like the alphabet agencies and other law enforcement, allowing them to track a targeted users’ every move, even if they are not engaging in illegal activities.
