FTC orders Mobilewalla, Gravy Analytics to stop collecting geolocation data without permission
By 
Adrianne Appel2025-01-17T16:09:00
Two large data brokers, Mobilewalla and Gravy Analytics, collected billions of records containing sensitive geolocation and personal data of millions of people, and then sold it without their consent, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said.
Federal laws and rules protect individuals’ rights to privacy, which generally require express consent for the collection, use, and selling of personal data. It is possible to collect extensive information about individuals from the websites and places they visit through geolocation data collected by applications on mobile phones.
The FTC alleged that the companies did not receive consent for the collection and sale of sensitive data, including healthcare information, political views, and religious affiliation, along with if they had visited a domestic abuse shelter.
THIS IS MEMBERS-ONLY CONTENT
You are not logged in and do not have access to members-only content.
If you are already a registered user or a member, SIGN IN now.
Related articles
-
News BriefGM sued by FTC for selling location and behavioral data without drivers' consent
General Motors failed to disclose to customers that it tracked their precise locations and driving behavior and sold the data to third parties, the Federal Trade Commission alleged in a proposed order.
-
PremiumProposed CFPB rule would attempt to rein in data broker buying, selling
Data brokers have been getting away with selling Americans’ personal and financial data without adequate protections, an illegal practice that a new rule proposed by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will intend to stop, CFPB Director Rohit Chopra said.
-
News BriefFCC teams up with CPPA to enforce privacy rules
In an effort to streamline the enforcement of California’s stringent privacy rules, the Federal Communications Commission has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the California Privacy Protection Agency.
More from Regulatory Enforcement
-
ArticleFTC suit against Uber gains traction with 21 states and DC joining in
The Federal Trade Commission allegations against Uber, alleging deceptive billing and subscription cancellations, have snowballed, with 21 states and the District of Columbia joining the lawsuit.
-
ArticleTop Ethics and Compliance Failures of 2025
The 2025 year has been so rich with compliance stinkers, and rife with poor judgment, compliance missteps, outright malfeasance and greed, greed, greed, that it was almost impossible to choose just six epic compliance failures from this year’s massive poop pile.
-
ArticleFATF focus on criminal asset recovery points to a more investigatory role for compliance
Global organised crime is booming, and only 1 to 2 percent of the $4 trillion black economy is intercepted, according to figures from the Financial Action Task Force. Its new guidance suggests that countries should focus on rapid investigations, collaborative intelligence gathering, and confiscating the proceeds of criminal activity.