FTC Takes Action Against Data Brokers for Privacy Violations

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has initiated actions against two data brokers, Gravy Analytics and Mobilewalla, for unlawfully selling sensitive location data without consumer consent, which includes tracking individuals near healthcare facilities and places of worship. Gravy Analytics, along with its subsidiary Venntel, is accused of harvesting billions of location signals daily and selling them to law enforcement agencies, while Mobilewalla is alleged to have tracked individuals attending sensitive locations, including protests and shelters. The FTC's proposed orders bar these companies from selling sensitive data unless for national security or law enforcement, and they are required to implement safeguards to protect sensitive locations. This enforcement marks the FTC's ongoing efforts to address privacy violations in the location data industry, highlighting the risks of data brokers to civil liberties. Samuel Levine from the FTC emphasized that such surveillance practices threaten the privacy and safety of vulnerable groups. Overall, this action reflects a growing scrutiny over the practices of data brokers and their impact on consumer privacy.