JR Starrett
(Formerly) Senior Director of National Advocacy
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Common Sense Kids Action strongly supports SB 1833 for its protection of mobile device users' sensitive location information.
Illinois moves to become first state to include geolocation data in consumer privacy laws
Common Sense Kids Action strongly supports SB 1833 for its protection of mobile device users' sensitive location information.
We're working with our partners to urge Illinois' governor, Bruce Rauner, to sign SB 1833 into law. If signed, this bill will protect the privacy of children in the state by protecting the geolocation data collected by smartphones and tablets.
These days, it's crucial for mobile app users to be aware of, and in control of, how their personal information is collected and used, especially when it comes to geolocation data from the devices that kids and teens carry with them everywhere they go. The smartphones and tablets kids are using to text their parents, do schoolwork, or post on their social media accounts are often tracking their locations without them even knowing it's happening. Tech companies take the information they've collected over time and sell it to advertisers, analytics companies, and other third parties who profit from the information.
Geolocation data is highly personal, but when it comes to kids, that means revealing data on where a child lives, attends school, and gets medical treatment. In many instances, this information is collected without the child's, or her parent's, knowledge or consent.
A recent study from Carnegie Mellon shows that a dozen popular Android apps collect location data roughly every three minutes. Over the two-week study period, these apps collected GPS coordinates accurate to within 50 meters an average of 6,200 times per participant.
We strongly support SB 1833 because it protects mobile device user's sensitive location information. The bill expands the definition of "personal information" to include geolocation data and puts safeguards in place to make sure Illinois residents are made aware of breaches to their personal data. The bill also requires that data collectors implement and maintain reasonable security measures and make it clear to users when personal information is being collected.
We urge Governor Rauner to sign SB 1833 to help create a trusted mobile environment that respects the privacy and sensitivity of mobile users' location data.
If you support putting common-sense limits on the data collected on consumers by app developers and tech companies, sign up to be a Kids Action Advocate today.
We're working with our partners to urge Illinois' governor, Bruce Rauner, to sign SB 1833 into law. If signed, this bill will protect the privacy of children in the state by protecting the geolocation data collected by smartphones and tablets.
These days, it's crucial for mobile app users to be aware of, and in control of, how their personal information is collected and used, especially when it comes to geolocation data from the devices that kids and teens carry with them everywhere they go. The smartphones and tablets kids are using to text their parents, do schoolwork, or post on their social media accounts are often tracking their locations without them even knowing it's happening. Tech companies take the information they've collected over time and sell it to advertisers, analytics companies, and other third parties who profit from the information.
Geolocation data is highly personal, but when it comes to kids, that means revealing data on where a child lives, attends school, and gets medical treatment. In many instances, this information is collected without the child's, or her parent's, knowledge or consent.
A recent study from Carnegie Mellon shows that a dozen popular Android apps collect location data roughly every three minutes. Over the two-week study period, these apps collected GPS coordinates accurate to within 50 meters an average of 6,200 times per participant.
We strongly support SB 1833 because it protects mobile device user's sensitive location information. The bill expands the definition of "personal information" to include geolocation data and puts safeguards in place to make sure Illinois residents are made aware of breaches to their personal data. The bill also requires that data collectors implement and maintain reasonable security measures and make it clear to users when personal information is being collected.
We urge Governor Rauner to sign SB 1833 to help create a trusted mobile environment that respects the privacy and sensitivity of mobile users' location data.
If you support putting common-sense limits on the data collected on consumers by app developers and tech companies, sign up to be a Kids Action Advocate today.
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