Salem, Oregon – Consumer Reports (CR) commended the Oregon Legislative Assembly for approving a landmark geolocation and kids privacy bill, Oregon H.B. 2008. CR worked closely with the bill sponsors to craft and support the legislation through the legislative process.
If signed into law, the legislation would extend new data protections to Oregon residents by banning the sale of precise geolocation data and the personal data of children under 16. This bill strengthens privacy rights for Oregonians following the passage of its comprehensive privacy law in 2023.
“Location data is some of the most personal data about us that exists. It can associate us with visits to sensitive locations like reproductive or mental health facilities, political rallies, places of worship, and more,” said Matt Schwartz, policy analyst at Consumer Reports. “At a time where location information is increasingly being used against consumers, preventing its commercial sale is one of the top things legislators can do to protect constituents’ privacy. Minors’ personal information is also inherently sensitive and should not be available for sale to the highest bidder. We commend Representative Chotzen for bringing forward this critical legislation and Oregon lawmakers for passing it. We urge Governor Kotek to sign the bill into law so that Oregon can set an example for other states to follow.”
Contact: Cyrus Rassool, cyrus.rassool@consumer.org