2 US Agencies Plan to Change How Data Brokers Sell Personal Data

The US government has already laid its eyes on data brokers who are notorious for selling the sensitive personal information of Americans.

With this, two government agencies have proposed to change the game for privacy-focused regulations that aim to protect the people.

Users' Rights to Data Privacy Law

In a report by 9to5Mac, almost all countries around the world have strict privacy laws which limit how data brokers collect and sell personal data.

As such, in Europe, GDPR privacy law focuses on some guidelines to safeguard users from unlawful data sharing and gathering.

Of course, there should be a valid and "lawful" reason why a person's data should be processed. Under this, there should be a specific basis as to why a company or an entity can use your personal information and add it to the database.

Usually, this is frequently observed in subscriptions that ask if you want the offer. There should always be permission asked before proceeding with the process.

Another thing is that the personal data should be encrypted. The firm, which will keep your data, should know how to encrypt it.

In case unexpected hacking happens, your data will remain safe. Every person has the right to know if a certain someone has access to their sensitive data.

Aside from that, the user has the right to have a copy of his/her data. There should be no charge made for releasing the information. Most importantly, you have the right to request the deletion of your data.

Privacy Law Against Data Brokers Should Be Tightened

California, for instance, has its own privacy laws yet the protection is deemed weak at a federal level. This means that you're not secure since your data can be sold to a company or an organization.

There's a case that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is going after a data broker who gathered data from people seeking abortions.

Apparently, it gets easier these days since someone can now track a person's location easily.

FTC and CFPB Wants to Crack Down on Data Brokers

There's another US watchdog that aims to clamp down on data brokers, aside from FTC which proposed to create data security and privacy rules in 2022.

According to CNN, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) wants to extend the policies that could prohibit data brokers from selling information to consumers.

Speaking of which, the new proposal says that there should be limitations on the sale of names, SSS numbers, and other confidential data.

"Reports about monetization of sensitive information - everything from the financial details of members of the U.S. military to lists of specific people experiencing dementia - are particularly worrisome when data is powering 'artificial intelligence' and other automated decision-making about our lives," CFPB Director Rohit Chopra said in a statement.

Chopra adds that the agency will continue to go after the "modern-day data brokers" who keep on engaging in illegal data sharing and collection.