Virginia Senate Passes Bill Banning Sale of Precise Location Data

The Virginia Senate has unanimously approved a bill, SB338, banning the sale of precise geolocation data. A similar bill passed the Virginia Senate last session.

EPIC submitted testimony in support of the bill “[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. And just last week, it was reported that ICE is exploring how it can use the “bidstream” type data broadcast in ad auctions for investigations.

EPIC supports SB 338 and urges the Virginia House of Delegates to pass this vital piece of legislation this session.