Ban the sale of precise geolocation (lawfaremedia.org)

Article summary

The article discusses the risks of precise geolocation data being collected and sold, highlighting a report by Citizen Lab on the Webloc system, which can track individual devices and provide detailed location information. The system is used by various US federal and state agencies, as well as foreign authorities. The article argues that the US needs to ban the sale of precise geolocation data to protect national security and civil liberties. A recent ban on the sale of such data in Virginia is seen as a step in the right direction.

Main themes

• Geolocation data collection
• National security risks
• Civil liberties
• Data privacy
• Regulation
• Surveillance

What commenters say

• The collection and sale of precise geolocation data should be banned due to its potential for abuse and risk to national security and civil liberties.
• Current privacy laws and regulations, such as the GDPR, are insufficient or poorly enforced, allowing companies to exploit loopholes and collect sensitive data without consent.
• The use of contracts of adhesion, where users are forced to accept terms and conditions without negotiation, is a form of extortion and undermines the concept of informed consent.
• Some argue that the GDPR is overly complicated and vague, while others see it as a necessary step towards protecting user data and privacy.
• The default setting for data collection should be opt-in, rather than opt-out, to ensure that users have control over their personal data.
• The narrative around data privacy and regulation is often derailed by special interest groups, such as adtech companies, which can spread misinformation and confuse the issue.