The Markup found that the data broker was receiving location data from the family-tracking app Life360 as well as dating apps for the LGBTQ community.
Real shame that they'll publicly shame Life360, but not the dating apps selling our their customers. I'm going to assume it's grindr since it's the biggest name that I'm aware of, and surprisingly isn't owned by match group who I was going to throw under the bus.
Wasn't that already illegal due to HIPAA?
I don't think location data from your cellphone is protected by HIPPA.
You would really think so right? At this point I’m curious WTF it’s good for.
This is not the function of HIPAA exactly. HIPAA is primarily used as a way to regulate the sharing of health information, and provides very specific requirements for the sharing of health information, with many caveats.
HIPAA specifically targets healthcare providers (covered entities) and the third-parties (Business Associates) which they work with. More specifically, it provides requirements for the sharing and storage of data from a covered entity to a business associate, and establishes liability in the event of a data compromise for either party.
If the data did not originate from a healthcare provider, likely HIPAA does not apply.
In this instance, the applications identified as sharing the data are not covered entities or even business associates.
It doesn't contain actual medical data, but a court might be able to conclude that your whereabouts might be protected data from a health privacy perspective.
Lina Khan is a rare human being
The US government: Winning where it can for the last 100 years… 🥱
Remember the CAN-SPAM act and how it ended spam forever? Remember how the national Do Not Call registry stopped telemarketing calls once and for all?
Yeah, this is going to do nothing at all.
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