FTC accuses data broker of selling sensitive location data

WASHINGTON — Federal regulators have sued a data broker they accuse of selling sensitive geolocation data from millions of mobile devices, information that can be used to identify people and track their movements to and from sensitive locations, including reproductive health clinics, homeless shelters and places of worship. The agency is seeking to halt Kochava’s sale of “sensitive geolocation data” and to compel the company to delete the geolocation data it has collected. “The FTC is taking Kochava to court to protect people’s privacy and halt the sale of their sensitive geolocation information.” The company filed a suit against the FTC earlier this month, after the agency sent Kochava a proposed complaint indicating that it could take the company to court. The company describes itself as the world’s largest independent mobile data marketplace, enabling marketers to “purchase mobile audiences.” Before the legal proceedings with the FTC began, Kochava unveiled a new capability to block geo data from sensitive locations, Cox said.