The FTC is banning data brokers Gravy Analytics / Venntel, and Mobilewalla from selling location data that can track people to healthcare facilities and other sensitive places.
The Federal Trade Commission is banning data brokers Gravy Analytics and Mobilewalla from collecting, using, and selling “sensitive” location data of Americans, the agency announced on Tuesday. The FTC targeted Gravy Analytics, its subsidiary Venntel, and Mobilewalla for allegedly violating the FTC Act by collecting and selling information that could be used to track people to healthcare facilities, military bases, religious sites, labor union gatherings, and other sensitive locations.
The FTC says Mobilewalla “relied primarily on consumer information that Mobilewalla collected from real-time bidding exchanges” by bidding to show people personalized ads on their mobile devices and then retaining tracking info identifying them. It also bought info from other sources and used additional data to build out the profiles attached to each advertising ID. Combining that data, according to the complaint, allowed Mobilewalla to create audience segments targeting pregnant women, as well as provide analysis of people who attended protests over the death of George Floyd. Meanwhile, Venntel’s scheme is explained as collecting location data from otherwise ordinary mobile apps, and then selling access to the data to other businesses or government agencies. 404 Media reports that the IRS, DEA, FBI, CBP, and ICE have all purchased Venntel data. Now, the companies must comply by never “selling, disclosing, or using sensitive location data in any product or service, and must establish a sensitive data location program.” Mobilewalla’s proposed settlement order will prohibit the company from: >Misrepresenting how it collects, maintains, uses, deletes or discloses consumers’ personal information, and the extent to which consumers’ location data is deidentified. >Using, transferring, selling and disclosing sensitive location data from health clinics, religious organizations, correctional facilities, labor union offices, LGBTQ+-related locations, political gatherings and military installations. Senator Ron Wyden from Oregon, who led efforts to target a loophole data brokers used to sell sensitive personal data on the market, applauded the FTC and CFPB for limiting what the companies can collect. In a statement sent to The Verge, Wyden said these companies could sell information about “law enforcement, judges and members of the armed forces is on the open market” to “anyone with a credit card,” putting citizens and military personnel in danger. Wyden also said US government agencies spied on Americans by obtaining this data without a warrant. “Many federal agencies hid behind the flimsy claim that Americans consented to the sale of their data, but the FTC’s orders make it clear how untrue these claims were,” said Wyden.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Del Mar elects two incumbents, one newcomer to City Council and approves two ballot measuresThe city is also in the process of filling its fifth council seat, which was vacated in September by the sudden resignation of Dwight Worden.
Read more »
Minnesota man kills two women and two children at separate homes before killing himself, police sayAuthorities say a man shot and killed two women and two children at separate Minnesota homes before killing himself. Duluth police say all five of the dead knew one another, but they didn’t say how or disclose a possible motive for the shootings. A woman and a 15-year-old boy were found dead in one house Thursday afternoon.
Read more »
Minnesota Man Fatally Shot Two Women, Two Children Before Killing Himself'Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims' families and loved ones involved in this tragic event,' police said.
Read more »
Now two San Quentin staffers have been indicted over past two monthsOne of them was a corrections officer who far excelled his co-workers at finding contraband…because he was allegedly planting it first.
Read more »
Now two San Quentin prison staffers have been indicted over past two monthsOne of them was a corrections officer who far excelled his co-workers at finding contraband … because he was allegedly planting it first.
Read more »
Thunder Two-Way Guard Adam Flagler Taking on More Leadership Role in Year TwoThe Oklahoma City Thunder brought sharpshooting guard Adam Flagler back on a two-way pact this season. This marks the second straight year of the Baylor Bears product in the Thunder system where he is taking on more of a leadership role.
Read more »