A Responsible Path Forward for Precise Geolocation Data

The virtues of each approach are hotly debated. Alarmist accounts of misuses are cited by the former, countered by cries of nanny-state overreach from the latter. Often overlooked in the discussions, however, is an additional set of requirements that applies nationwide. 

On top of whatever state law governs, the Federal Trade Commission has deemed the sale of precise geolocation data associated with “sensitive” locations to be a violation of the FTC Act. These include healthcare facilities, domestic violence shelters, immigrant/refugee shelters, childcare centers, etc. Even within the Consent States, this category of “sensitive location data” may not be sold.

Most of the misuses commonly cited by Ban State proponents, such as the tracking of people that visit abortion clinics, are banned by this FTC rule. But a glaring exception exists: sales of location data to government agencies seeking to skirt the Fourth Amendment. In lieu of obtaining a search warrant, agencies such as ICE have been known to attempt to purchase consumer location data from private suppliers. 

Nevertheless, even Consent States prohibit such sales without the explicit consent of the targeted individual, which would have to read something like this: 

You may collect and use my location information for law enforcement purposes, and may share it with government entities accordingly.

Azira neither requests nor obtains such consent (and neither does anyone else we’re aware of). Accordingly, we are prohibited by Consent States and Ban States alike from selling our data to law enforcement unless compelled to by a warrant (or similar obligation). And our privacy policy states that we don’t engage in such sales unequivocally. 

Ban State proponents chafe at the piecemeal protections just described, citing residual harms that might, theoretically, seep through the cracks. But they fail to account for the real-world efficiencies that flow from the sale of precise geolocation data, a short partial list of which follows:

• Electric Vehicle Charging Stations: Urban planners rely on real-time mobility data to plan charging infrastructure according to driver behavior. Placing charging stations in optimal locations increases the adoption of EVs, thereby reducing overall vehicle emissions. 
• Regional Airport Catchment Zones: Regional airports must be sited efficiently, and carriers must plan their routes efficiently, to minimize the use of jet fuel and bottlenecks, requiring planners to precisely map passenger origins and destinations.
• Micro-Crowd Control for Mega Events like the World Cup: Managing tens of thousands of moving bodies within a compact area requires granular, real-time geolocation data.
• Smart City Traffic & Signal Optimization: Traditional traffic lights run on fixed timers, which are highly inefficient. Processing precise location data allows cities to deploy vehicular crowdsourcing frameworks, reducing emissions and drive times. 
• Emergency Response and Disaster Relief: Deploying lifesaving assets efficiently during an emergency requires precise location data to monitor impacted zones in real time. Highway-level location streams are vital for the creation of evacuation corridors.
• Commercial business traffic optimization for quick-service (fast food) retail restaurants.

Because of these, and many other, real-world efficiencies, Azira will continue to advocate for the right to sell precise geolocation data ethically and responsibly.

Learn more about Azira’s privacy policy here.