California Attorney General Rob Bonta has initiated an investigative sweep into the location data industry, targeting advertising networks, mobile app providers, and data brokers that may be violating the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). The investigation aims to address concerns about how businesses manage consumers' rights to stop the sale and sharing of personal information, including sensitive geolocation data.
Bonta highlighted the risks associated with location data collection. "Every day, we give off a steady stream of data that broadcasts not only who we are, but where we go," he said. He emphasized the potential for misuse of this data in light of federal threats to immigrant communities and healthcare services.
The CCPA grants Californians increased privacy rights, allowing them to know how their personal information is collected and shared. Under this law, consumers can exercise their right to "opt-out" from having their personal information sold or shared. Businesses must comply with these requests unless they receive further authorization from consumers.
To protect themselves, consumers are encouraged to review app permissions on their devices and adjust settings accordingly. For Android users, this involves navigating through Settings > Personal > Location Access > App location permissions. Apple users can manage these settings via Settings > Privacy > Location Services.
Consumers can also disable mobile advertising identifiers on their devices. On Android devices, this can be done by going to Settings > Privacy > Ads and selecting "Delete advertising ID." Apple users should go to Settings > Privacy > Tracking and toggle "Allow apps to Request to Track" off.
Additional precautions include managing Wi-Fi and Bluetooth settings to prevent inadvertent location tracking.
For more details on consumer rights under the CCPA, individuals are advised to visit official resources provided by relevant authorities.