🎯Virginia just made a law that stops companies from selling where you are at all times. This is important because it helps keep your personal information safe from people who might use it to stalk or scam you.
What Happened
In a bold move to protect privacy, EPIC (Electronic Privacy Information Center) has reached out to Virginia's Governor Abigail Spanberger, urging her to sign S.B. 338, a bill that aims to ban the sale of precise geolocation data. This legislation is crucial in a world where personal data is often sold without consent. On April 14, 2026, Governor Spanberger signed the law, which prohibits the sale of geolocation data within a 1,750-foot radius, effectively preventing data brokers from pinpointing where consumers live, work, and travel.
The bill received unanimous bipartisan support in the state legislature and will take effect on July 1, 2026. This move is part of a growing trend, as states like Maryland and Oregon have already enacted similar laws, and others, including California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont, are currently debating similar legislation.
Why Should You Care
Imagine your daily life: every time you check your phone, your location is being tracked. If S.B. 338 passes, it could mean that your whereabouts are no longer for sale. This is significant because it protects your privacy from companies that profit by selling your location data to advertisers or other third parties. Matt Schwartz, a policy analyst at Consumer Reports, emphasized the importance of these protections, noting that the risk of stalking, individualized scams, and unwanted targeting has never been clearer.
EPIC highlighted that the overcollection and sale of precise geolocation data have led to severe privacy violations, including reports of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) purchasing software to track millions of Americans via their cellphones. This raises serious concerns about bypassing Fourth Amendment protections and the potential misuse of such data.
Think of it like this: would you want someone selling your diary without your permission? That's what happens when companies sell your location data. By supporting this bill, Virginia could set a precedent for other states to follow, enhancing privacy rights across the nation.
What's Being Done
EPIC is actively advocating for the bill's passage by mobilizing public support and raising awareness about the importance of privacy. If you live in Virginia, here’s what you can do:
- Contact your local representatives and express your support for S.B. 338.
- Stay informed about the bill's progress and share information with friends and family.
- Engage in discussions about privacy rights and the implications of location data sales.
Experts are watching closely to see how this bill will influence privacy legislation in other states. If successful, it could lead to a wave of similar laws aimed at protecting personal data nationwide. Additionally, reports have surfaced showing how geolocation data has been misused to track individuals, including national security officials and visitors to abortion clinics, highlighting the urgent need for such protective measures.
The unanimous support for S.B. 338 reflects a growing recognition of the need to protect personal data from exploitation, especially given the alarming reports of government agencies misusing geolocation data.
