Lawmakers from Massachusetts State in the United States are considering a bill that would ban the sale of cellphone location data, a move that would be a first in the US. The bill called the Location Shield Act, would also require law enforcement to obtain a warrant before accessing location data. The Location Shield Act would make it illegal to “sell, lease, trade, or rent location data” throughout Massachusetts. Companies must also obtain permission if they wish to collect or process such data.
Location Shield Act Enabling Data Privacy
The Location Shield Act is a proposed law that safeguards important aspects of people’s lives. Proponents of the bill say that it is needed to protect the privacy of cellphone users. The argument in favour is that location data can be used to track people’s movements and activities, and that this information could be used for nefarious purposes, such as stalking or discrimination.
Opponents of the bill say that it would be too burdensome for businesses and that it would stifle innovation. They argue that location data is often used to provide valuable services to consumers, such as personalized recommendations and traffic updates.
The ACLU highlights the issue with their statement, “Every day, unregulated data brokers buy and sell personal location data from apps on our cellphones, revealing where we live, work, play, and more. To protect our privacy, safety, access to abortion and other essential health care, Massachusetts needs to ban this practice now by passing the Location Shield Act.”
The bill is still in the early stages of consideration, but it has the support of a number of privacy advocates. If it is passed, it would be a major victory for privacy advocates and a significant step forward in protecting the privacy of cellphone users.
Key Features of the bill:
- It would ban the sale of cellphone location data.
- It would require law enforcement to obtain a warrant before accessing location data.
- It would allow businesses to collect location data for the purpose of providing services to consumers, but they would not be able to sell it to third parties.
- It would create a new agency to enforce the law.
The bill is facing some opposition from businesses. However, privacy advocates say that the bill is necessary to protect the privacy of cellphone users.
Access to Abortion Services & General Health
Rights groups such as the ACLU and Planned Parenthood, have advocated for implementing the Shield Act. It is because it acts as a means to safeguard individuals seeking abortions from potential prosecution if they travel to Massachusetts for the procedure. Massachusetts is considered safer for women from other states who may travel there for abortion services.
The Location Shield Act would also provide safeguards to prevent discrimination and harassment from happening to any individual based on their profile. This new law is a way to protect the privacy and well-being of individuals by limiting the misuse of location and making sure that the movement of any individual is not used against them in harmful ways.
The bill is still in the early stages of consideration, so it is too early to say what the full implications will be. However, it is clear that the bill has the potential to have a significant impact on the way location data is used.
