Virginia Governor has signed into law a bill banning the sale of citizens’ precise geolocation data, signaling growing momentum for such legislation at the state level. ### Geolocation Data Ban Details The legislation bars the sale of geolocation data within a 1,750-foot radius, a buffer designed to prevent data brokers from pinpointing where consumers live, work, or travel. The bill, passed as an amendment to Virginia’s existing comprehensive data privacy law, received unanimous bipartisan support in the state’s legislature and will take effect on July 1. **Maryland** and **Oregon** already have similar laws. Several other states, including **California**, **Connecticut**, **Massachusetts**, and **Vermont**, are considering their own bans. ### Expert Commentary "Virginia's unanimous, bipartisan support of [this bill] is just another indicator of the growing momentum for stricter location data rules at the state level,” said **Matt Schwartz**, a policy analyst at **Consumer Reports**, via email. “These protections are critical, especially at a time when the risk of stalking, individualized scams, and unwanted targeting has never been clearer.” ### Concerns over Data Usage Data brokers selling precise geolocation information have faced increased scrutiny. Reports have highlighted how this data has been used to track the locations of national security officials and individuals visiting abortion clinics. In February 2024, Senator **Ron Wyden** (D-OR) revealed that his staff found evidence that an anti-abortion organization used mobile phone location data to target misinformation at citizens who visited approximately 600 reproductive health clinics in 48 states. ### FTC Actions The **Federal Trade Commission (FTC)**, under the **Biden** administration, has taken enforcement actions against companies selling location data. However, the **Trump FTC** has not pursued new cases. In February, the Trump FTC supported a proposed settlement with geolocation data broker **Kochava** in a case brought by the Biden administration. The details of the FTC’s complaint against Kochava were made public in November 2023, revealing that the data broker sold near real-time geolocation data within 10 meters of consumers, along with their yearly income, app usage, and mobile device IDs. The agency charged that Kochava’s practices violated Section 5 of the **FTC Act**, which prohibits unfair and deceptive practices.