In a newly amended complaint, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has alleged that Kochava, a prominent data broker, has been collecting, using, and disclosing large amounts of precise geolocation data. This comes as part of FTC’s ongoing examination of the location data ecosystem which has been described by the agency as “opaque”.
FTC’s longstanding concern about potential misuse of location data has been evident for years. For example, in a 2022 blog post titled “Location, health, and other sensitive information: FTC committed to fully enforcing the law against illegal use and sharing of highly sensitive data”, the agency underscored its commitment to preventing the illegal use and sharing of sensitive data. It reassured the public and industry players that it will not hesitate to enforce the law against entities found to abuse location data or other sensitive information.
As part of their efforts, FTC has taken action against mobile app operators and data brokers who have been suspected to misuse sensitive data. The latest enforcement action now involves Kochava. FTC’s allegations point to the company’s practice of collecting, using, and disclosing significant amounts of location data.
Legal professionals, particularly those involved in data privacy and regulatory compliance, will have to pay close attention to these ongoing investigations and enforcement actions. As the regulatory landscape evolves and intensifies regarding data usage and privacy, corporations and law firms must ensure keen observation and adherence to the emerging legal and compliance patterns.
Should you wish to delve into the details of the FTC complaint against Kochava, the full account is available here.