Some data brokers may be illegally selling your information – preventing you from finding out what personal data is held, and opting out from its collection and resale.
Privacy campaigners say they’ve “uncovered a troubling pattern” that may indicate companies who collect and re–sell personal data may not be complying with state laws …
While Europe has tough privacy laws governing the collection and use of personal data, there is no equivalent federal legislation in the US. However, four states have enacted their own laws, which require data brokers to:
- Register
- Declare the personal data they collect and sell
- Offer citizens in those states an opt–out, preventing their data being sold
These states are:
- California
- Oregon
- Texas
- Vermont
The Verge reports that hundreds of data brokers do not appear to have registered in all of the states in which they operate. This means there is no way for people to find out what is being done with their data, nor have the option to opt out.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and a nonprofit privacy rights group have called on several states to investigate why “hundreds” of data brokers haven’t registered with state consumer protection agencies in accordance with local laws.
An analysis done in collaboration with Privacy Rights Clearinghouse (PRC) found that many data brokers have failed to register in all of the four states with laws that require it.
The EFF says that urgent investigations are needed given the sensitivity of the data collected by these brokers, and the potential for abuse.
The data can be highly sensitive like location information, and can be used to target you with ads, discriminate against you, and even enhance government surveillance. The widespread sharing of this data also makes it more susceptible to data breaches. And its easy availability allows personal data to be obtained by bad actors for phishing, harassment, or stalking.
The non–profit says that the position may be even worse than its findings suggest, as it only identified brokers who had registered in at least one state but not all four. It says there may well be others who have failed to register in any of the states.
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