FTC to ban data broker Kochava from selling Americans’ location data
FTC to ban data broker Kochava from selling Americans’ location data
Publish Date: 2026-05-05 10:39:53
Source Domain: www.bleepingcomputer.com
FTC Bans Data Broker Kochava from Selling Location Data Without Consent
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has finalized a settlement to ban Kochava, a data broker, and its subsidiary Collective Data Solutions (CDS) from selling precise location data without explicit consumer consent. The FTC had accused Kochava of collecting and selling location data from hundreds of millions of mobile devices, allowing clients to track users’ visits to sensitive locations like mental health clinics and domestic violence shelters without their consent. To settle charges brought in August 2022, Kochava is now prohibited from selling location data unless it has affirmative express consent from consumers and the data is used only for requested services. Companies are also required to establish a sensitive location data program, verify consumer consent, allow consumers to request disclosure of data recipients and withdraw consent, report incidents of misuse, and create a data retention and deletion schedule. This marks an enhancement in efforts to curb mass commercial surveillance and privacy violations.
Key Points:
- The FTC banned Kochava and CDS from selling precise location data without explicit consumer consent.
- Kochava had been tracking and selling location data from sensitive places like mental health clinics and domestic violence shelters without consumer knowledge.
- Companies are now required to obtain affirmative consent and implement detailed data handling procedures.
- This settlement contributes to the FTC’s efforts to curb mass commercial surveillance and protect consumer privacy.
