EPIC Commends Oregon for Enacting Heightened Protections for Location, Minors’ Data 

All Oregonians now have heightened protections for their location data, and Oregon children and teens under 16 years of age have enhanced protections over all their personal data.  

Yesterday, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek signed H.B. 2008, a bill that amends the Oregon Data Privacy Law to ban the sale of precise geolocation data and the data of minors under 16.  

“Banning the sale of location data and minors’ data protects Oregon residents from some of the worst privacy violations taking place today,” said EPIC Deputy Director Caitriona Fitzgerald. “EPIC commends Speaker Fahey, Representative Chotzen, and Governor Kotek for recognizing the need for these protections and enacting them into law.” 

Oregon is now the second state to enact a ban on the sale of some forms of personal data. Last year, Maryland banned the sale of all sensitive data — including both precise geolocation data and the data of minors under 18 — in its Maryland Online Data Privacy Act. 

Oregon also enacted an amendment to its Oregon Data Privacy Law, H.B. 3875, to ensure that car manufacturers and affiliates that process personal data from a consumer’s use of a car are covered by the law.