'Anonymized Data' Is A Gibberish Term, And Rampant Location Data Sales Is Still A Problem

The article argues that the common industry claim that location data is safely "anonymized" is fundamentally flawed. Repeated studies demonstrate that it requires minimal effort to re-identify individuals by cross-referencing location traces with other available datasets. Consequently, the illusion of anonymity provides no real protection for users, as mobile device movement patterns easily reveal sensitive details about daily routines, workplaces, and residences, effectively linking digital records to specific people. This vulnerability is exacerbated by a highly opaque supply chain where wireless companies and app makers sell user location data to various brokers with little transparency or user consent. Companies like Veraset often refuse to disclose their data sources, relying on public ignorance to maintain their business models. This lack of visibility prevents users from understanding how deeply their movements are tracked and commodified, creating an environment where privacy violations can occur without immediate detection or accountability. The situation is worsened by stalled legislative efforts and weak enforcement, allowing companies to continue collecting and trading data while avoiding meaningful oversight. Without a comprehensive federal privacy law or significant financial penalties to deter bad actors, the cycle of data misuse and scandal will likely persist. This highlights the urgent need for open_data initiatives that demand greater transparency and verifiable anonymity standards, as current voluntary measures have proven insufficient to protect individual privacy in the digital age.

Source: techdirt.com
Published on 2023-01-19

'Anonymized Data' Is A Gibberish Term, And Rampant Location Data Sales Is Still A Problem

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