WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) today joined Senator Al Franken (D-Minn) and five other colleagues to introduce measure to outlaw GPS “stalking apps”—which an abuser can secretly install on a victim’s smartphone to track their every movement.

In addition to banning stalking apps, this legislation would require companies to get consumers’ permission before collecting location data off their smartphones, tablets, or in-car navigation devices, and it would also require permission before sharing location information with third parties. This would give consumers more control over their sensitive location data—things like who their doctor is, where they live, and where they work. 

The Location Privacy Protection Act of 2015 closes legal loopholes that allow stalking applications to exist on smartphones. This bill fixes this problem by requiring companies to get customers' permission before collecting their location data or sharing it with third parties. It also contains targeted provisions to ban stalking apps. The bill would also require that the federal government gather new statistics and information on GPS stalking.

Location Privacy Protection Act of 2015:

  • Requires that companies get individuals’ consent before collecting location data off of their smartphones, tablets, or in-car navigation devices, and before sharing it with others. This rule doesn’t apply to parents tracking kids, emergencies, and similar scenarios;
  • Stymies GPS stalking by preventing companies from collecting location data in secret;
  • Requires that any company that collects the location data of 1,000 or more devices publicly disclose the data they’re collecting, what they do with it, who they share it with, and how people can stop that collection or sharing;
  • Bans the development, operation, and sale of GPS stalking apps – and allows law enforcement to seize the proceeds of those sales; and
  • Requires that the federal government gather more information about GPS stalking, facilitate reporting of GPS stalking, and prioritize training grants for law enforcement. 

You can read a summary of the bill, which is also cosponsored by Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), and Ed Markey (D-Mass.), by clicking here.

You can view a list of the bill’s supporters by clicking here.