The Federal Trade Commission has proposed sweeping new regulations that would require data brokers to obtain explicit opt-in consent before collecting or selling personal location data. The rules would also mandate that consumers be given clear, accessible tools to view and delete their data from broker databases.
The proposal comes after an FTC investigation found that several major data brokers were selling precise location data sourced from mobile apps to law enforcement agencies, insurance companies, and private investigators without user knowledge or consent.
Industry groups have pushed back, arguing the rules would cripple legitimate advertising and analytics businesses. Consumer advocacy organizations have praised the proposal as long overdue, calling location data one of the most sensitive categories of personal information.
