Massachusetts bans sale of precise location data in new privacy rights bill (techcrunch.com)

Article summary

Massachusetts lawmakers have passed a bill that bans the sale of precise location data, granting residents new rights over their personal data. The bill applies to companies handling data of over 100,000 consumers and prohibits the sharing or sale of sensitive information without explicit consent. The law is expected to have a broad effect on startups and advertising companies that collect and use location data. The bill will now be sent to the state governor's office for signing into law.

Main themes

• Data Privacy
• Location Data
• State Legislation
• Consumer Rights
• Tech Regulation

What commenters say

• A federal-level privacy law is needed to supersede state-level laws and provide uniform protection for consumers.
• The Massachusetts bill lacks teeth due to the absence of fines or imprisonment for non-compliance, rendering it ineffective.
• Allowing private individuals to bring civil suits is crucial for effective enforcement of the law, rather than relying solely on the Attorney General.
• The bill's focus on the sale of data, rather than its collection or use, may create loopholes that companies can exploit to continue gathering and utilizing location data.
• The law's impact will be limited as companies can still collect and use location data as long as they do not sell it, and can use non-Massachusetts-based data brokers to circumvent the law.
• The possession of personal data, rather than just its sale, should be the focus of regulation to truly protect consumer privacy.
• The bill is a step in the right direction, but more comprehensive legislation, such as data minimization, is needed to effectively protect consumers.
• The use of terms like 'sale' instead of 'exchange' or 'transfer' may create unintended loopholes in the law.