A new bill would bar telecom companies from selling location data from smartphones in New Hampshire without explicit consent from consumers. The bill is one of several efforts by states and municipalities across the country to regulate the sale of consumer data.
The measure is sponsored by Democratic state senator Shannon Chandley, who said she authored the bill after being contacted by a constituent.
It's estimated that location-targeted advertising is a $21 billion dollar industry. This bill would require telecom companies to get the explicit approval of consumers before selling their location data into that market.
“We don't anyone and everyone to have access to our individual location simply because we agreed to use a certain service,” said Chandley.
The bill, along with a similar one filed in the House, would also allow consumers whose data is sold without consent to take legal action against telecom companies.
