FTC sues app analytics and data broker Kochava for selling data revealing visits to reproductive health clinics, places of worship, homeless shelters, and more
The Verge Adi Robertson
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Discussion
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@linakhanftc
Lina Khan
on x
1. Today @FTC sued data broker Kochava for selling geolocation data that can be used to track people at addiction recovery facilities, reproductive health clinics, places of worship, shelters, and other sensitive locations. https://www.ftc.gov/...
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@ronwyden
Ron Wyden
on x
I've been fighting to protect Americans from shady data brokers trying to sell private reproductive data for a profit in post-Roe America. I applaud @FTC for this important step. I won't stop fighting to protect Americans' privacy. https://twitter.com/...
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@burrddoh
Victoria
on x
Because Roe was about your right to privacy, you should be very concerned. #ONEV1 https://twitter.com/...
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@evacide
Eva
on x
I am really getting a kick out of watching the FTC get extra spicy about data brokers: https://www.ftc.gov/...
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@natashanyt
Natasha Singer
on x
Americans do not expect their smartphone locations to be aggregated and sold in a manner that could enable third parties to ascertain their religious beliefs, health treatments and LGBTQ+ identification, @FTC said. https://twitter.com/...
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@tonyajoriley
Tonya Riley
on x
Update to the article is coming but here's Kochava's full response to the lawsuit. Quite some strong wording. https://twitter.com/...
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@themattevers
Matt Evers
on x
Phone manufactures and app developers have a real opportunity here to stop phone locations being tracked. Who's going to step up? https://twitter.com/...
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@senwarren
Elizabeth Warren
on x
Major action by @FTC & Biden admin to protect Americans' privacy. With abortion rights under attack by the Supreme Court and Republican states, it's a critical step to crack down on data brokers selling sensitive location data—including at healthcare clinics & places of worship. …
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@thezedwards
Zach Edwards
on x
The @FTC under @linakhanFTC continues efforts to “follow the trail of pregnancy data” being shared haphazardly by data brokers. The lawsuit just announced today into Kochava is one to watch — the implications for other data brokers is significant! 🧐🌩️⚖️ https://twitter.com/...
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@josephfcox
Joseph Cox
on x
New: the FTC is suing a “massive” data broker for selling location data of people who visit abortion clinics. FTC says its possible to get a sample of the data, and then from that, track a specific device to a clinic and back to a single family home. https://www.vice.com/...
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@adam_k_levin
Adam Levin
on x
“[B]y selling data tracking people, Kochava is enabling others to identify individuals and exposing them to threats of stigma, stalking, discrimination, job loss, and even physical violence.” https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/ ...
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@justinbrookman
Justin Brookman
on x
The FTC has sued data broker Kochava for selling access to raw consumer location data derived from partners' smartphone apps. They allege this is unfair under § 5 because location data is sensitive and reveals intensely personal aspects of our lives. (1/6) https://www.ftc.gov/...
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@martyswant
Marty Swant
on x
The @FTC has filed a lawsuit against the ad-tech startup Kochava, claiming geotracking people who visit abortion clinics & other sensitive locations could expose them to “threats of stigma, stalking, discrimination, job loss, and even physical violence.” https://www.ftc.gov/...
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@jonkeegan
Jon Keegan
on x
Wow this is a major shot across the bow to the location data industry. @FTC says sample Kochava data included visits to reproductive health clinics, houses of worship, shelters + addition recovery centers. This comes after FTC warned brokers in July that enforcement is coming. ht…
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@rob_weissman
Robert Weissman
on x
FTC files major suit against data broker selling geolocation data. Esp after Dobbs, this is a vital step to protect patients and consumers from data surveillance-superpowered vigilantes, extremists and overzealous prosecutors. https://www.ftc.gov/...
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@jeffhauser
Jeff Hauser
on x
Great to see the @FTC step up against creepy invasions of privacy made even more salient by the Supreme Court's awful Dobbs decision. Independent agencies are important! https://www.ftc.gov/... https://twitter.com/...