Virginia Governor Signs Bill Banning Sale of Precise Location Data

Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger has signed S.B. 338 into law, prohibiting the sale of Virginians’ precise geolocation data.

EPIC had testified on S.B. 338 when it was being considered by the Legislature and sent a letter to Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger urging her to sign the bill. The bill passed both chambers of the Legislature unanimously.

EPIC told the Governor that “[b]y banning the sale of precise geolocation data, S.B. 338 would put a stop to some of the most harmful abuses of our personal data happening today.” EPIC noted that the harms of the overcollection and widespread sale of precise geolocation data have also come to the forefront recently amid reports that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has purchased software that allows the agency to track millions of Americans via their cellphones. Bypassing Fourth Amendment protections, ICE has purchased access to a social media and phone surveillance product that allows the agency to monitor specific areas for mobile phones and track the movements of those devices (or their owners) over time. 

Virginia joins Maryland and Oregon is banning this harmful business practice outright. The law goes into effect on July 1, 2026.