Data Brokers Accused of Illegal User Tracking
The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has filed actions against two US-based data brokers for allegedly engaging in illegal tracking of users’ location data. The data was reportedly used to trace individuals in sensitive locations such as hospitals, churches, military bases, and other protected areas. It was then sold for purposes including advertising, political campaigns, immigration enforcement, and government use.
Mobilewalla’s Allegations
The Georgia-based data broker, Mobilewalla, has been accused of tracking residents of domestic abuse shelters and protestors during the George Floyd demonstrations in 2020. According to the FTC, Mobilewalla allegedly attempted to identify protestors’ racial identities by tracing their smartphones. The company’s actions raise serious privacy and ethical concerns.
Gravy Analytics and Venntel’s Accusations
The FTC also suspects Gravy Analytics and its subsidiary Venntel of misusing customer location data without consent. Reports indicate they used this data to “unfairly infer health decisions and religious beliefs,” as highlighted by TechCrunch. These actions have drawn criticism for their potential to exploit sensitive personal information.
Unlawful Data Collection Practices
This article has been indexed from CySecurity News – Latest Information Security and Hacking Incidents