Source URL: https://www.wired.com/story/ftc-mobilewalla-gravy-analytics-orders/
Source: Wired
Title: FTC Says Data Brokers Unlawfully Tracked Protesters and US Military Personnel
Feedly Summary: The FTC is targeting data brokers that monitoring people’s movements during protests and around US military installations. But signs suggest the Trump administration will be far more lenient.
AI Summary and Description: Yes
Summary: The article discusses the Federal Trade Commission’s action against two data brokers for allegedly violating privacy laws by unlawfully trafficking sensitive location data of American citizens. This raises concerns about data privacy, consumer consent, and the implications of such practices in monitoring sensitive activities around protected sites. The case highlights the importance of governance and compliance in handling personal data.
Detailed Description: The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is taking significant legal action against data brokers Mobilewalla and Gravy Analytics, focusing on the misuse of sensitive location data obtained from consumers. This groundbreaking case emphasizes concerns over privacy violations, the ethical implications of data collection, and the potential ramifications for compliance and regulatory oversight in data-driven practices.
Key points include:
– **Accusations Against Data Brokers**:
– Mobilewalla is accused of unlawfully tracking residents of sensitive locations, including domestic abuse shelters and places of worship, particularly in the context of the protests following George Floyd’s murder.
– Gravy Analytics and its subsidiary, Venntel, are charged with harvesting and exploiting consumers’ location data without consent to make inferences about health decisions and religious beliefs.
– **Nature of Data Utilization**:
– The data collected was reportedly used for various purposes, including targeted advertising, political campaigns, and governmental uses, raising ethical and compliance concerns.
– The FTC noted that the data enables the identification of consumers’ places of worship and residence, potentially invading personal privacy.
– **Volume of Data**:
– Gravy Analytics is reported to have collected over 17 billion location signals from approximately one billion mobile devices every day, which indicates the sheer scale of data harvesting.
– **Regulatory Implications**:
– The FTC is taking legal measures to bar these companies from collecting sensitive location data and mandates the deletion of historical data amassed on millions of Americans.
– This marks a pivotal moment as it is the first time the FTC has stepped in to regulate the collection of data from an ad exchange (real-time bidding exchanges).
– **Company Responses**:
– Mobilewalla contends that its privacy policies are evolving and disputes some allegations, asserting that their practices respect consumer privacy while providing valuable insights to businesses.
This case serves as a reminder for organizations that handle data to prioritize compliance with privacy regulations and ethical data governance. It illustrates the necessity of strict data protection measures, especially in light of growing scrutiny over consumer privacy rights. Security and compliance professionals must remain vigilant in understanding and adhering to these evolving regulatory environments, especially in data-rich industries where privacy risks are significant.