FTC Sues Idaho Company
The FTC (Federal Trade Commission) is suing Kochava, an Idaho based data broker for selling personal data. I have heard on TikTok that certain companies track your personal information, but selling it? Now, that’s on another level! But anyways, the lawsuit is being filed against them says that Kochava sold the geolocation from millions of devices that could be used to trace abortion clinics, churches, addiction centers, health clinics, and other sensitive information. This violates a section in the FTC Act that bans unfair and deceptive practices in commerce. However, Kochava is fighting back by already taking their own steps by filing a lawsuit against the FTC for ignoring privacy improvements Kochava made to their policies. The company further explained that they took steps to improve the privacy of their consumers like removing health-services locations from its marketplace and that the FTC simply does not understand how their business works. The general manager of Kochava Collective, Brian Cox, released a statement saying, “we are constantly monitoring and proactively adjusting our technology to block geodata from other sensitive locations.” The company even explains that they got their data from third-party brokers who all have their information from consenting consumers. This lawsuit reflects major shifts in private policy as the FTC is becoming stricter on data brokers and the advertising industry as they gather their data online. Due to the ruling, other companies like Alphabet have changed their policies about sensitive locations. However, in the future, the FTC said that they will start to begin a detailed process of rules of a broader range to protect consumer data.
I am not a financial advisor and my comments should never be taken as financial advice. Investments come with risk, so always do your research and analysis beforehand.
