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Virginia bans sale of precise geolocation data

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Re: Virginia bans sale of precise geolocation data

#62

Given the actual informed and uncoerced choice, people say no to this kind of collection and especially its sale or use for any purpose other than the explicit service they thought they were allowing it for (navigation, setting the time, etc etc). This is true for basically all information collected. I'm glad to see there is some minor protection language being included but it needs to have real teeth and get to the…

What's the limit of coercion? Can someone provide a product that loudly says "we will sell your geolocation data" on checkout? Is it coercion if you simply want the product?

Yes. Paying the money the data is worth isn’t coercive, linking some other transaction to selling your location data is.

This includes having a discount larger than what your location data is worth. IE: I’ll sell you this car for 50k, o you want it without location tracking that will be 150k.

Re: Virginia bans sale of precise geolocation data

#64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This information allows other companies to make more informed decisions. Other companies making better decisions doesn't "hurt us".

Companies’ executives and top investors should let us see their location data then. And open up every part of their internal comms that don’t directly disclose trade secrets. At least the metadata! It doesn’t hurt them, just lets us make better decisions, after all. There does not exist a good reason they’d object!

You can buy it from a data broker. They aren't obligated to give you this data for free.

Re: Virginia bans sale of precise geolocation data

#65

Given the actual informed and uncoerced choice, people say no to this kind of collection and especially its sale or use for any purpose other than the explicit service they thought they were allowing it for (navigation, setting the time, etc etc). This is true for basically all information collected. I'm glad to see there is some minor protection language being included but it needs to have real teeth and get to the…

Completely agreed. Even for people who are like "I have nothing to hide", the only people who think this way are simply unaware of just how much harm can come to them without the protection of privacy (and laws that ensure this)... or they just have no self-preservation instinct, I guess?

So, aside from nothing to hide domestic/family violence and stalking, the fact that they can and will build an inference about you to attempt to influence your choices is fundamentally menacing to every person.

Corporate stalking has become so normalised (and provides so many livings) that we are through the other side.

Half a millennium ago they tried to control us by restricting our access to information to control what we think, now they bombard us with it to control what we think.

Re: Virginia bans sale of precise geolocation data

#66
post #4

So, instead you buy a "custom computer", and the data is completely free! Its like how FLOCK gets around pesky data laws. The devices coat a lot, but the software dashboard access is "Completely free*"

I can't find it so it's probably just a myth, but I recall hearing about "free beer with purchase of food" at bars during prohibition. However, I think it was more than just the sale that was prohibited.

There was a situation like this in DC for cannabis. There was a ballot measure passed that legalized recreational use and gifting but selling weed was still illegal. So there were lots of “gifting” shops where they would sell things like stickers or t-shirts and then offer you a “free gift” of cannabis. It was sort of tolerated for a little while but the authorities started cracking down and required them to get licensed for medical maraijuana sales. [1]

0: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Washington,_D.C.,_Initiat...

1: https://mjbizdaily.com/news/district-of-columbia-dc-gifting-...

Re: Virginia bans sale of precise geolocation data

#67

Bill: https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB338/text/SB338 > Virginia follows Maryland and Oregon in banning the sale of geolocation data. Both Maryland and Oregon more broadly define “sale” to mean the exchange of personal data “for monetary or other valuable consideration.” Virginia joins several other states that have recently proposed legislation with similar bans, including California, Massachusetts, Ver…

Funny how two states with a large number of elected officials living in them opt for privacy first.

In fact, most states have a large number of elected officials in them, especially those elected officials who hold the legislative power of that state.

But if you meant the 500ish elected federal officials, most of whom are not Virginians or Marylanders, and so have neither any influence as voters nor as legislators, then... well I'm still not sure what you mean. Privacy laws are good. I don't see a reason to be cynical.

Re: Virginia bans sale of precise geolocation data

#68
post #46

What is the rationale for going to the trouble of such a law but only banning sale, rather than all sharing?

Because the data is very helpful in pricing risk of drivers in insurance premiums. Obviously risky drivers should be charged a higher rate.

Companies who want to use this data should gather it themselves, and transparently. Insurance companies do this, my dad had a little tracking unit in his car that I assume allowed him to pay a lower rate.

It is not gathering or using the data that is a problem, it is gathering or sharing it without awareness and consent. To be fair, even sharing/selling it would be fine assuming it happens with awareness and consent. Not buried in some ToS, but active consent.

Re: Virginia bans sale of precise geolocation data

#69

Given the actual informed and uncoerced choice, people say no to this kind of collection and especially its sale or use for any purpose other than the explicit service they thought they were allowing it for (navigation, setting the time, etc etc). This is true for basically all information collected. I'm glad to see there is some minor protection language being included but it needs to have real teeth and get to the…

If I was rich, wouldn't I just pay the fines though? I hear about megacops fined billions of dollars every year for doing this shit they don't give a fuck

Edit: Okay my brain processed the information now, criminal prosecution sounds like slightly more deterrence. (Nobody would do an illegal thing, after all ;)

Re: Virginia bans sale of precise geolocation data

#70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Seems you missed that part that DOES hurt us: > Exchanging private and personal user data without consent and without users being aware of it

This information allows other companies to make more informed decisions. Other companies making better decisions doesn't "hurt us".

More informed decision to raise revenue. Is that necessarily helping us? When you say its not affecting us, us as who? Just sounds like a karma farmer.
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