US data brokers sold Americans' location data to foreign adversaries
9 hours ago
- #data brokers
- #California privacy law
- #national security
- California's 2026 data broker registry reveals 33 brokers self-reported selling or sharing data with foreign actors (North Korea, China, Russia, Iran) in 2025.
- Seven brokers disputed their entries, highlighting potential inaccuracies in self-reported data and underscoring the need for accurate filings and enforcement.
- Data brokers' practices, including selling precise geolocation and device IDs, pose risks to consumer privacy and national security.
- Five brokers reported collecting precise geolocation data, which is difficult to anonymize and could expose sensitive information about US locations.
- Companies like Epsilon have histories of selling data to scammers, raising concerns about their ability to control data sales to foreign adversaries.
- Possible next steps include investigations by the FTC, DOJ, California regulators, legal actions by plaintiffs, or new legislation to address data broker risks.
- Existing federal programs like PADFAA and DOJ's Data Security Program cover similar foreign actors but may need stronger enforcement and broader protections.